Stop the arrogance which hurts rugby

But I can see a smugness and complacency in union which existed in league a few years ago, when the money came pouring in from television and the clubs squandered it on ridiculous player contracts which fuelled hyper-inflation.

Union at the moment is like a helium balloon, sailing up into a clear blue sky. But very soon there will be a bang.

Eighteen months down the track, I foresee union facing the same financial crisis which currently threatens league.

Accuse me of being typical of league's 'siege mentality' if you like, but you are wrong. I enjoy union. I played for England at Twickenham and even after all my years in league, I am president of Liverpool St Helens rugby union club.

I just happen to prefer and love league but, at 61, have been around long enough to read the warning signs in both codes.

The wonderful international profile union boasts and which is the carrot for league stars, is about to become a monster. The international structure is becoming the be-all and end-all of union. The RFU insists stars have to play 10 international matches a year, simply to pay for Twickenham and to keep their top clubs afloat.

Only Leicester made a profit last season and the conclusion is that the top players can play only 22 matches for their clubs because of the international programme.

So what will supporters and sponsors say if Henry Paul and Jason Robinson are available for only 22 club games? What are the journeyman players at those clubs going to think if they are having to play 30 to 40 matches while the 'imports' are picking up £200,000-a-year?

And established union internationals, who are on less money than those ' imports', are going to demand better contracts. The outcome, as it was in league, will be inflation leading to crippling debts.

Attendances for club games in the codes are interesting. The average for Super League is 20 to 30 per cent higher than that for the Zurich Premiership.

Union has copied so many of league's rules and styles of play it is no surprise when it casts admiring glances at what league offers. Now it is professional, union needs solo artists who can open up defences and bring fans to their feet.

But if league stars of the calibre of Paul and Robinson are lured to union, that doesn't mean the death-knell of the 13-a-side game.

Rugby union has a high profile at the moment and is awash with money. So, I suppose, it is understandable that some people have been trying to undermine their rivals.

A more reasoned attitude would be to look at ways of working side-byside and establishing more dual-code clubs, like Leeds, who have the Rhinos in Super League and the Tykes in the Zurich Premiership. Union and league must counter the massive hype and money of soccer.

In some ways, I actually welcome the hysteria of the past few weeks.

My hope is that it will galvanise league's administrators into getting their act together. The sport needs a unified body, a properly structured international programme, a league structure with promotion and relegation and a sensible salary scale.

The real threat to rugby league is not losing its best players or its top clubs to union, but going bust. Smug union would be well-advised to heed the warning signs.

?Ray French is author and publisher of League Tales(£9.99). All proceeds go to a charity for players who have suffered severe neck or spinal injuries while playing rugby league.