As someone with a foot in both camps I still think that Football fans are worth chasing, but the problem is the term 'rugby' for them. They are immediately (and understandably) put off by the thoughts of Ra-ras and Jonny Wilkinson types. Also Rugby is hard for football fans to appreciate initially as it involves three elements that are foreign in football:

1) Using your hands
2) Kicking the ball over the bar is seen as a good thing.
3) Kicking the ball out into touch is seen as a good thing

However points 2 and 3 are really only significant in RU. In RL the openess and the flow of the game will tend to appeal to football fans. If you can get them to the game, there's usually no problem, they'll be hooked.

As for the state of football with the money and the diving, it does lead to disillusionment amongst football fans. Most fans would agree on the negative impact of these elements of the game, and so would be good targets for RL. Sky Sports et al may try to portray English football as the envy of Europe, and the Premiership as the 'Best league in the World' (How, this is given that only four teams can win it!), but in truth most fans are fed up with at least some element of football, either TV saturation or cost or whatever. The inane 'discussion' and phone in shows' on TV and radio about the game (with the exception of anything fronted by Danny Baker) try to portray the game as still being about the fans - but that has long since been true at the highest level, and fans of the non-premiership clubs look up with an envious eye at what they will never be able to acheive.

So RL more than ever should try and get to Football supporters. They WILL like it, they just need to see it! It worked on me and my Dad in 1996 and Football was still worth watching back then!

I saw all these guys at the game, my wife was sat amongst them. To say they were virgins is a massive understatement. She couldn't believe some of the stuff she was hearing.
There were about 15-20 of them I guess, there was only really one amongst them who knew the rules of the game who had to explain it to the others. They didn't even understand the very basic rules of the game, my wife who's Norwegian and only has a passing interest in the game knew the rules far better than they did.
Worrying when you consider these guys are gonna be the sports journalists of the future, although it was a good game for them to see and hopefully will have opened their eyes a bit.

In respect to the comments about the lack of atmosphere with regards to the crowd.

Perhaps this is needed more so in football due to the very dull patches that a game can serve up where the crowd need to entertain themselves. With League, even in a poor match, there is always something happening and it keeps the crowds attention. This may be detriment to the general atmosphere.

Had these people been taken to a Hull KR home match then perhaps this would be something more akin to what they expected. They, by far and away, are the fans who generate the most support for their team IMO.

God, football fans really are pussys aren't they?

They could always wait until he inevitably turns his back before flicking him the V's.

on a seperate note it says a lot about Huddersfield Giants (and the RFL) that a large number of budding sports journalists on their doorstep remain "untouched". IMO they should be doing everything they can to convert these lads and lasses into being Giants (and RL) fans.

There were around 14 of us. Two of us are massive rugby league fans (myself included). There are some with a vague interest in the game, but no real solid foundations, and then there are the rest who have never even been to a rugby league game before.

Yes, we cannot afford to pigeonhole ourselves into these sorts of sports. But you have got to remember people are always going to favour sports they are familiar with. Like you said, it's a new experience for them, and hopefully they will now read up on it, do their homework, and goto another game.

Or maybe it's a sensible comment by someone who actually understands football?

I do feel there's a lot of bitterness towards football from some RL fans, a lot of it unjustified. And a lot of it by people who don't actually understand the game.

Face it some people prefer one or the other, some enjoy watching both. There's no point getting so worked up about it. Relax and enjoy whatever sport you choose to watch.

I too have converted from football, in 2002. But it wasn't after my first rugby game (think I had seen 3 games in the previous 6 years before). I know tons of football fans who have gone to, or seen a rugby game and haven't converted though

I can think of an obvious reason why