The Rugby Abstract: Unifying Rugby Union and Rugby League into One Sport

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When Rugby League and Rugby Union fans were asked: ‘Would you watch the Australian Kangaroos play the New Zealand All Blacks?’ The unanimous reply was, ‘Absolutely!’

On the world stage, Australia dominates the League version of Rugby while in Union it is New Zealand. Undoubtedly, the best rugby players in Australia play League but, elsewhere, who has heard the names, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis or Jonathan Thurston?

When Mark Campbell, a self-confessed Rugby League ‘tragic’, saw South Africa win the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup, it inspired him to ask: ‘How can the Springboks be the best Rugby team in the world when they have not beaten the Australian Kangaroos?’ In response, he drafted a proposal to end the war and unify the two codes under the one banner - the Unified Sport of Rugby.

In his book, The Rugby Abstract, Mark examines the history of Rugby, shares his personal experience with both codes, outlines the benefits and challenges of creating a united sport, and discusses the potential rules in detail. It is a carefully considered attempt to reconcile these two popular sports on a level playing field.