In 1893 the Committee of the Rugby Football Union began to hear reports that some players in the north were being paid for playing. This was contrary to the strict amateur code of the time and efforts were made to collect hard evidence. The evidence arrived with a complaint by Cumberland County Union that a leading Yorkshire club had induced one of their players to leave for a monetary consideration.

The Union set up an inquiry but were warned privately and through letters to the press that if the club was punished the entire chief clubs in Lancashire and Yorkshire would break away from the Union. This was a serious threat because large proportions of international players were drawn from these counties.

The inquiry was held at Preston and the club concerned was suspended.

There followed two large general meetings at which efforts were made by the Northern Union's to carry a resolution that men should be paid for broken time - that is to say when playing football instead of working.

The motion was defeated, in August 1895 when twenty-two clubs broke away from the Union and formed the Northern Union at the George Hotel, Huddersfield and only a short punt from the BARLA offices. The loss of the northern clubs to the Northern Union had a serious effect on the international scene and it was several years before the loss could be made up.

In June 1922 the Northern Union was altered to the Rugby Football League. The new form of rugby caught on rapidly in the north. In 1897 changes were made to the rules, the value of a goal was reduced to 2 points and the lineout was replaced by a kick-in from touch. By 1897 there were 80 rugby league clubs. In 1902 direct kicking into touch was made an infringement. In 1906 the number of players was reduced from 15 to 13 and the important modification of the "play the ball" was brought into operationand the birth of Rugby League was complete.

[End]

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