'Makes perfect sense': Kiwi columnist's radical merger solution to save union, league from COVID-19 financial crisis

“There is no guarantee broadcasting rights will return to the levels they are now, and clubs without the revenue lifeline of ticket and concession sales could go to the wall.

“Take the NRL. There was a reason the best league competition in the world continued its “delusion” long after it was sensible – it couldn’t afford not to. It has a rainy day fund suitable for a light drizzle, but if it looks outside right now it’ll see it is pouring. In Australia, they are already talking about which clubs will fall over first.

“The only reason rugby is in better shape is because its international game remains strong, the World Cup is a cash machine and a bunch of sugar daddies in France and England are prepared to run rugby clubs as loss leaders.

“In the south, and Australia in particular, Super Rugby is close to a basket case.

“For financial reasons alone, having all the talent playing a single code makes perfect sense.”

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Cleaver went on to suggest that while both sports would benefit from an altered style of gameplay, but ultimately predicted that a compromise between the two codes will never come to fruition, although if it were to happen, now would be the time to discuss it.

From a purely playing perspective, a merger between union and league into one single code would yield a massive influx of talent from both directions.

With the likes of Cameron Smith, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Latrell Mitchell doing battle with Maro Itoje, Beauden Barrett and Faf de Klerk, it would be difficult for broadcasters and sponsors to not pay offer top dollar for such an enticing clash of stars.

Such a move would also alleviate worries of players looking to hop between codes, with both league and union fans concerned at the prospect of losing Kalyn Ponga and Ardie Savea to the opposite sport in recent times.

However, it are those financial incentives which will drive the rugby world – both union and league – in the coming months once COVID-19 dissipates, and few concepts could demand as much corporate money or ticket sales as a permanent cross-code merger.

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