Warrington Wolves head coach and rugby league icon Sam Burgess has taken up a surprise investment in Hybrid Rugby, the organisation behind the radical league-union crossover game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dual-code international, who has represented England at both rugby league and rugby union World Cups, is the most recent high-profile name to throw their support behind the idea, with Penrith Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary also said to a fan of the concept.<\/p>\n
\u2018I believe there could be an appetite for a cross-code game\u2019<\/p>\n
A game of Hybrid Rugby is a merger of the two codes, with teams placed under league rules within their own half and union rules when attacking in the opposition half. However, they only have 60 seconds inside the opposition half to either score or dispose of the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really works well; I like the concept,\u201d Burgess\u00a0told the\u00a0<\/a>Sydney Morning Herald<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s quite exciting for the game. I\u2019ve played both (league and union) and I know the crossover between the two.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a high level, I believe there could be an appetite for a cross-code game. An international style game played under hybrid rules. It would excite a lot of rugby union fans and a lot of rugby league fans across the globe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just necessarily Australian and UK fans; places like South Africa could show a lot of interest in this concept.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about sport and entertainment, and bringing together the two codes could be a bit of fun. It could work out quite well.\u201d<\/p>\n His interest in the concept also follows a mooted hybrid international Test match between England rugby league and England rugby union.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have received an enquiry about Hybrid Rugby,\u201d Rhodri Jones, managing director of RL Commercial<\/a>, told BBC Sport<\/a>\u00a0of the possible Test back in December.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have not assessed this specific approach yet. There are a multitude of things we would need to consider.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, if we believe there is some tangible benefit to the sport, we will.\u201d<\/p>\n While there has been no confirmation of anything since those initial reports, Burgess feels England could be the place to really grow Hybrid Rugby, given some of the financial issues facing both codes.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s an appetite for the English game, especially with rugby league having it\u2019s challenges,\u201d Burgess<\/a> added.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s another avenue for the game and the players to generate some revenue. England would be a great place to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n While not strictly played under Hybrid Rugby rules, crossover games have begun to work their way into the calendar, with the annual 745 game, a charity contest played to raise funds and awareness in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease, played under a mix of league and union rules.<\/p>\n MONDAY\u2019S READS ON LRL<\/p>\n Ranking all 23 of Willie Peters\u2019 Hull KR signings with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves THIRD<\/a><\/p>\n Every Super League club\u2019s captain for 2026 as Leeds and St Helens opt for change<\/a><\/p>\n