Wigan v Leicester - 1996 Middlesex Sevens Semi Final

[@TemazepamParty]

I was at Twickenham that day. The gulf between Wigan and all of the other teams was enormous. It really was men against boys. There were many in the crowd who were unhappy that (a) a League team had even been invited, and (b) that they then completely showed up all of the Union boys. For my own part, speaking as a Welsh Rugby Union fan, it was an absolute privilege to watch some of the greatest rugby players who have ever stepped on to a pitch.

[@orinorio1]

To think Edwards Farrell Robinson and Henry Paul all went to play union with the first two now coach's no for union teams.

[@wobblertv8083]

Twickenham snobbery smashed in the face 😂

[@smilodontiger5675]

I agree. As a Welsh rugby fan, I was delighted to see Quinnel on the field. Union had a lot to learn and on this day got a lesson.

[@stevewallwork4297]

How good was it? My sentiments exactly. I loved every minute of bring a rugby league fan brought up here in Oz.

[@boxyboy46]

I was there that day also and apart from technique, it seemed the fitness level of the Wigan boys was telling.

[@homeone4054]

The quality of passing and support play by Wigan was just exemplary

[@Hammer332]

Great Wigan team. Any real rugby fan can appreciate the incredible athleticism and skill of League, and most League fans can appreciate the skill of Union, particularly as exemplified by the likes of the All Blacks.

[@aczdc69]

Thanks for this, totally forgot they played these games. Loved Inga's had offs at 3:50

[@parttroll1]

A monster on the field but a gentleman off it

[@williamwallace2278]

Union legend

[@stevewallwork4297]

I was at that game. How good it was to sit there and watch the rah rah boys getting flogged. I knew what was coming. 95% of the fans there did. I think they all walked away a bit shell-shocked, including the RFU. They knew they had a lot of work to do.

[@andrewp1075]

That's some Wigan team.

[@MrAckers75]

That ref tried his best to give it to Leicester

[@ianstewart9487]

That's was a bloody good Wigan 7. World class players all. Wasn't the ref shite!

[@stillages1]

“And the refs penalised Wigan for playing in red and white hoops”

[@popeyedish]

and a further 10 metres for speaking in northern accents..🤣

[@robertcottam8824]

It was quite shameful, really

[@nmw6674]

"I say chaps, those Northern fellows certainly gave us a bloody nose, what? It makes one wonder just who is better at rugger.... pass the port.."

[@robertcottam8824]

Ah give over. What does that sort of comment achieve?

[@paulgdunsford7469]

I almost forgot how good Henry Paul was

[@jeffcurtis5980]

Only just seen this. I had no idea Wigan were invited to the sevens. But what did the union fans expect? At the time Wigan had the best record of any professional team in the world in any sport. An incredible run of wins with some of the best League players ever assembled in one team.

[@spritbong5285]

These games paved the way for the England world cup victory in 2003. Ironically, Jason Robinson scored in that final. Each code benefitted from the experiment.

[@Shapter123]

Imagine a rugby league 7s tournament inviting Saracens or Leicester to play in it and they smashed everyone, it wouldn’t and couldn’t happen

[@bfc2155]

Literally the top professional league team vs a team where they barely turned pro most on semi 😂

[@matthewconnor6817]

gulf is enormous. wigan look like elite athletes, leicester, an after work sevens team made up from an accountancy firm.

[@judaspriest4957]

Mr VC well don't forget rugby union was only just turning professional. I don't think many of these players for Leicester would have been professional if any

[@davidgore1382]

ste farrow but yet they Leicester had already won the league previously in 1998 and 95. Wigan was simply unreal back in the day

[@tonyfranklin8306]

@@judaspriest4957 lol, union were 'professional' since the 60s for the top end players, payments for playing were a known thing even in the valleys, it was all hypocritical BS.

[@boneidle626]

@@judaspriest4957 union teams didn't look much better in 2002 when Bradford won it

[@MrAckers75]

Tony Franklin yep very true! Rugby union was amateur in name only and many of the players got paid a good salary

[@truckerfromreno]

Great stuff.

[@johnkelly1566]

yeah cheers for this really enjoyed it!!!

[@homeone4054]

To be fair everyone in the UK would recognise 6 out or the 7 Wigan names. Our of the Leicester team only Liley. But RL was certainly then light eras better than RU.

[@mitcholeary1526]

wasn't union like in their first year of professionalism and it wasn't even full professionalism? where as the league teams were trained professionals for years?

[@homeone4054]

@@mitcholeary1526 the 7s players were rarely the top players in their clubs so they wouldn't have been paid much if at all, except the people like Liley, Dallaglio etc who were top club names or internationals. Don't forget this tournament was an end of season jolly in RU. The bigger names would have been off on tour.

[@ianaspinall7948]

Can sense the tories at twickenham getting upset at being whalloped by leagues finest, great stuff

[@robertcottam8824]

We weren't ALL Tories by any meansm

[@JonnyLewisFilms]

It's like watching a pro team play an amateur team! Although I guess that's what it basically was.

[@lapalad]

Amateur? No bag money then?

[@merrickforrester5238]

Good God, to think that was an elite English rugby union side. pretty much the same weaknesses now as back then. Union players can't tackle, can't pass, can't catch, can't put a move together and can't break through a tackle. They are bigger nowadays, and look meaner in photos, but they are still shit.

[@kabukiman1981]

Union really lives in you league boy''s heads rent free doesn't it? The chips on your shoulders are hysterical.

[@merrickforrester5238]

@@kabukiman1981 The chips are all on the rah rah boys shoulders actually.

[@kabukiman1981]

@@merrickforrester5238 Of course... Get over it bro. Take a deep breath and count to six - the highest number you can count too, lmao .

[@merrickforrester5238]

@@kabukiman1981 You thick a-hole, at least I can use the English language correctly. 'Too' is an adverb meaning 'as well as', you were looking for the phrase' count to', 'to' being a preposition which indicates moving towards something or someone. I thought you public school poofs practiced grammar as well as giving each other BJ's.

[@kabukiman1981]

@@merrickforrester5238 Ooooh grammar attacks. Just keep counting to six bro - you'll get over it. Did a union boy steal your missus or something?

[@avebac1]

inga the forgotten all black great

[@robertcottam8824]

Nah. Not forgotten. Missed.

[@floorboard16]

Yes there was payment to Union players prior to full time professional Rugby Union, but even so Union players were not full time , all had regular jobs. Having said that, Wigan were a wonderful Rugby team. Interesting to note that in their squad were several former Union players Edwards English Schools fly half, Offiah who had starred at the National Schools Sevens, Quinnell and Tuigamala great All Black. Also despite some different rules an argument can be made that Union 7's is closer to League than it is to 15 a side Union

[@robertcottam8824]

Irrelevant. Wigan were just better

[@DarwinNorth]

And what about when Bradford Bulls won the same tournament after being smashed 50-20 the previous night by St.Helens

[@pseudapollodorus]

This is hilarious. Though as a Leeds RL and Northampton RU supporter...I kind of wish they could both have lost :-P

[@grahamlowe7388]

your life must be very bitter

[@robertcottam8824]

​@@grahamlowe7388 Stop

[@christopherdale7017]

I only wish the Brisbane Broncos were their to take on Wigan that would be putting the cats amongst the Pigeons. RIP Enger the winger.

[@chrisblack4977]

I remember at the time most England Rugby Union players didn't take part in the 7's that year due to work commitment or family duties lol.

[@robertcottam8824]

And? The difference would have been...

[@ewaf88]

Pity Leicester didn't have the Underwood brothers playing

[@grahamlowe7388]

yeah riggggght.

[@janettemohan7739]

What - the Underpants brothers? Rory should have been known as "Underground" because of his tunnel vision. Did he ever make a crucial pass?

[@ewaf88]

@@janettemohan7739 Yes to his Brother Tony who scored in the corner against South Africa in 1992.

[@janettemohan7739]

@@ewaf88 OK - I concede that he may have made one or two important offloads. But would either of the Underpants have been of any interest to the top division mid-table RL clubs of that time, such as Halifax or Oldham? IMHO, Ian Hunter was a better wing than either of them. AND he led Mott the Hoople.

[@DarwinNorth]

Didn't one of them.pull out of playing against Wigan?

[@melbeeswax6087]

It's a pity that this has fallen out if the rugby calendar. Nice to them going head to head. 7s the best format for it, who remembers the Bath v Wigan cross code games? Pretty boring compared to this.

[@williamwallace2278]

Leicester 7's? Surprised they didn't attempt to do rolling mauls the whole game

[@priehowell8825]

Maybe they should have

[@homeone4054]

They left the ABC club at Welford Rd for this

[@janettemohan7739]

I liked Eddie Hemmings, but I wish Ian Robertson had been commentating on this game. Would've been nice to hear a confirmed and dogmatic "unionista" weeping on air...

[@davidwalsh8127]

2 great rugby players working for France and Ireland. The Old Boys at Twickers still don’t like League players.

[@gerardreviews]

Why do Leicester have letters on the back of their jerseys rather than numbers?

[@janettemohan7739]

Rugby union players are mostly accountants, and are consequently tired of dealing with numbers.

[@chrischarnock4244]

MAN V BOY

[@MrAckers75]

Piss poor when the loose forward out runs ya lol

[@davidbleach5159]

The Welsh lad, Sion Ap Edwards, can’t tackle.

[@countycricklewood]

A group of professionals beat a joint team of amateurs? Well fancy that? Leicester and playing 7’s. Not exactly their style 😅😅

[@DarwinNorth]

Bag money anyone

[@manly4ever913]

No RU team can match the Australian Kangaroos rugby league team even with a 20 point start lol

[@robertcottam8824]

Well said. Have a biscuit.

[@stevejones4235]

Wigan on a better doping program. RU has now caught up and even surpassed RL's.

[@philipmarsden7104]

You think so? We have a hybrid game now and Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards have played quite a part in its development.

[@pedro1707]

still not in the same league

[@teallythered6652]

Utter shit.

[@sometimeslife5989]

R u at still athletes like league Absolutely no chance against any super league team or Nrl team... All blacks v australia 🇦🇺 Rl Would b a great game

[@ukmateus]

@@sometimeslife5989 yes that would be great to see a match under each set of rules