Eastmond Heads To Bath As League Continues To Lose Its Stars

Eastmond on his way to bath 

With the recent announcement that Kyle Eastmond is leaving St Helens to join Bath it is a sad day for the game. One of the future stars in Rugby League will have left at the age of 21. He has conquered nothing in Rugby League with no winners medals.

'One that left earlier'
Ashton proved great success in Union

I could understand if he had won everything and wanted a new challenge like Jason Robinson did. I do believe that losing these players at an increasingly early age should worry the RFL. Before it was the older players Robinson, Andy Farrell and Henry Paul but recently Chris Ashton and now Eastmond both in their early 20's. Lee Smith also left and although he came back it is worrying how many good young players are being tempted. Maybe it is the money, Rugby Union has far greater financial power. Maybe its the prospect of playing in competitions such as the Heineken Cup or on the International stage in the Six Nations or in World Cup's in front of 80/90 thousand. League lacks these competitions competitiveness. 

Despite New Zealand's recent triumphs in League, which has been great to see, it is still only them and Australia. England are a far away third and after that you really are struggling. Union is now thought of by the world when people say Rugby. The Rugby Football League (RFL) were slow to react and Union stole a march and the initiative. As a result League has been left behind. The game itself is great  and as a spectacle is second to none. It has a host of famous fans from others sports including the likes of Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney. The newer rules introduced are good e.g. the idea of the 40/20 in 1999. 

Forward thinking- Video Technology 

It move to a summer sport has been a success and it has always been trying to improve e.g one of the first sports to use video technology in 1996, another major success. This has since been copied by Union as well as many other sports. It is a different game to Union as has pace, freedom and constant play. However the people who run Union have got the marketing side right. I know there is an argument for the coverage Union gets over League for many reasons such as background and snobbery however for me the RFL could and should have done more. In Union players have higher profiles due to the marketing and they have spread the game worldwide. Though still true that there is only 9 genuine teams. Although they have developing sides and the game is very strong in France (unlike League) and South Africa where League is non-exsistent. Having been left behind it is very tough for League to compete. The losing of stars also doesn't help. If Sam Tomkins of Wigan was now to leave it would be a disaster. The RFL must act as otherwise the game will go into further decline. It can not survive in England with many of the teams coming from only two counties. 

For too long people in the North of England want the game to be kept in the M62 corridor. They like it as 'their game' that no one really knows about. However this attitude for me must change if the sport is to get national recognition and international success.

Many will argue that it is flattering that other sports come and take the players and that the system of youth development is so good these players will be replaced and the game continued. For example I hear Jonny Lomax is to replace Eastmond. He is another young up and coming star. However despite the fact that I agree with this view I do not think it is healthy for the game. 

I do not really understand Eastmond's decision as he could have achieved so much and I would liked him to have seen the Australian NRL as a bigger challenge then going to Union. Union domestic game is poor as the only care is for the Heineken Cup and so for me the International pull and money may have done it. I wish him all the best however feel it is a mistake that he will later regret.