Regular World Cups, the Six Nations and the European Cup give it a much more effective international dimension than league. But there is no reason to panic. One consequence of the free gangway is that those who cross the divide can still come back. And most probably will. League, or more precisely Super League, can help itself in relation to coaches by moderating its obsession with Australians.
Players tend, given the chance, to gravitate back to their original culture.
So the Welsh former union players who took part in the 1995 World Cup campaign are mostly back in Wales, and in union. Jason Robinson, who has given so much pleasure over the last few years, will change codes with the best wishes of most fans, but the sincere hope that he will be back before too long. Peter Deakin s changes of code are becoming an annual event, and while he will doubtless do as impressive a job of marketing Sale as he did for Saracens, there is little doubt where his heart is. As Saracens owner Nigel Wray said You can take the man out of rugby league, but you can t take rugby league out of the man . No-one will be any the worse for broadening their experience.