5 Stars of Rugby League Who Failed to Make the Grade in Rugby Union

The path between rugby league and rugby union has been well trodden in both directions over the years.

Before the union game shook off its amateur status in the mid 1990s, it suffered a drain to the smaller code, with stars such as Martin Offiah, Scott Quinnell, Jonathan Davies and Scott Gibbs all opting for stints in league.

But since the beginning of the professional era in union, the tide has turned and many of league’s biggest stars have left their northern roots behind to have a crack at the 15-man game.

Sam Burgess is the biggest star since Jason Robinson to try his hand at making the switch and is still very much a work in progress, as his Bath colleague Francois Louw explained in the Bath Chronicle.

Conversely, his former league contemporary Sam Tomkins has opted not to follow him, re-signing for Wigan after returning to the UK from New Zealand, per the Guardian.

Perhaps Tomkins has seen how Burgess has not quite caught fire in the way union fans hoped just yet, and decided the grass may not always be greener.

And while we wait to see if Burgess can live up to the sky-high expectations, it is worth noting the big names who went before him and failed to live up to their billing.

1. Robbie Paul

New Zealander Robbie Paul switched codes to play for Harlequins in the 1996-97 season.

The change didn’t last beyond that period, sandwiched as it was between Super League seasons after the 13-man game had transferred to a summer playing calendar.

He did put himself in the shop window for a second stint in union in 2001, per BBC Sport, but that never materialised, and the Kiwi international did admit he would have found the switch tough:

"I would much prefer to play rugby league because it's what I play best. Going into rugby union would force me to have to relearn a lot of skills and artistry of the sport."

Paul's ability as a league player marks him as one of its finest artists, and this was never more evident than when he scored a hat-trick in the 1996 Challenge Cup final.

2. Gary Connolly

Gary Connolly also used the winter of 1996-97 to sample union with Harlequins.

And his efforts were described by Dave Hadfield of the Independent as “the most successful of that code-crossing winter, with his tackling making a particular impact.”

That was as high-profile as his union career ever rose, however.

He played for Orrell in 2001 after the union National League One Club had become part of the setup at league giants Wigan, and again in 2002, per BBC Sport.

3. Brian Carney

Brian Carney enjoyed an illustrious league career with Wigan and Newcastle Knights in Australia’s NRL.

He curtailed his move to the Gold Coast Titans to return home and was soon courted by the Irish Rugby Football Union, joining Munster in 2007.

He won four caps for Ireland and scored on debut against Argentina.

He was also in the Munster squad that won the Heineken Cup. But he later told the Irish Independent:

"

I played in six out of the nine games that year but didn't play in the quarter-final, semi-final or final and don't really feel I made any sort of contribution. And I would never list that Heineken Cup win as an achievement on my sporting CV. I wasn't good enough to be in the team. Was I cut out to be a better rugby union player or a better rugby league player? (The answer was) rugby league.

"

When he called it a day, he went behind the mic and is still working as a pundit for Sky Sports' rugby league coverage.

4. Barrie-Jon Mather

Mather was one of the first players to make the switch to union full-time after the game turned professional.

But he won just one England cap, in the 1999 Five Nations final day defeat to Wales.

He had the size to make him one of the biggest backs in the game at the time, having played for England schools at lock alongside Simon Shaw.

But Mather perhaps proved that you need more than just physicality to fully grasp the differences between the codes.

He was quickly called into the England squad after joining Sale, a move that even surprised him, per the Independent:

"I didn't feel like I'd earned it and I was worried what the others thought of me. I don't know the thinking behind it but at least it gave me a chance to learn," he said.

He didn’t learn enough for the switch to last beyond his initial two-year contract, and was back with Castleford thereafter, where he scored the try above.

5. Andy Farrell

Farrell had much against him when he left behind a glittering league career for the 15-man game.

The league legend was already 31 years old and his body started to let him down after joining Saracens.

His best position was also the subject of much debate, with the former Wigan captain tried at blind-side flanker and inside centre before settling on the latter spot.

Farrell made the England World Cup squad in 2007 but never cemented himself as a first-choice player for the national side and retired with just eight caps in union to his name.

The verdict from many a media pundit had already been handed down on Farrell prior to that tournament, with Chris Hewett of the New Zealand Herald writing:

"

There is no more controversial individual in the English game than Farrell…Saracens started playing him on the blindside…Within weeks, the rationale had changed. By the time the Six Nations came around, he was the first-choice No 12. Unfortunately, he is the slowest No 12 ever to don the white shirt—and England have fielded some real carthorses down the years. (Then England coach Brian) Ashton, a league aficionado, has given him every opportunity, but there has been no sign of the goods being delivered.

"

He did score the try above as a replacement in the pool game against Tonga, but the veteran Mike Catt was preferred to Farrell in the big games that followed.

His rugby union coaching career has perhaps been more successful, as part of the Saracens backroom staff before moving full-time to England and playing a part in Warren Gatland’s coaching team for the 2013 Lions tour.