<P> On 26 August 1995 the IRFB, now known as the International Rugby Board, declared rugby union an "open" game and thus removed all restrictions on payments or benefits to those connected with the game . According to The New York Times at the time, "Thirteen - man rugby league has shown itself to be a faster, more open game of better athletes than the other code . Rugby union is trying to negotiate its own escape from amateurism, with some officials admitting that the game is too slow, the laws too convoluted to attract a larger TV following". </P> <P> Although both rugby codes are forms of football, in many places, it could cause confusion as "football" is understood to mean Association football, Gridiron football, Gaelic football or Australian rules football depending on the country (or indeed region of the country). In much of the rugby union - playing world, the sport of rugby league is infrequently played and rugby union is commonly known simply as "rugby"; in countries where both codes are played, there is a need to distinguish between the codes of rugby . </P> <P> In the United Kingdom, rugby union or rugby league fans rarely refer to their sport as "football" as in most cases this would refer to association football . Across the United Kingdom, rugby union is usually referred to simply as' rugby' but in the North of England, the word' rugby' could refer to either sport, but usually means "rugby league". The nickname "rugger", which developed in England's elite schools, almost always refers to rugby union . </P> <P> In Australia and New Zealand, rugby league is usually known as "league" or "football" with the latter term potentially confusing as Australian rules football and Association football could also be called football . Rugby union is often simply referred to as "rugby" without the ambiguity that this term carries in the UK . </P>

What is the difference between super rugby and nrl