As a young lad watching great centres like Deano, Gene Miles and Gary Connolly at Wigan, and playing centre for a couple of local junior sides, I was actually in awe of Scott Gibbs at Saints. There's been loads of great Union converts, but he was quite different to most that made the switch - a really exciting player to watch.



Also worth a mention, simply for his time at the very top in both codes, is Brad Thorn. Maximum respect to anyone that can play League at the highest level, go do the same in Union (albeit for the All Blacks, having represented the Kangaroos), then switch back to League, and finally back to Union again; collecting rep honours practically every year and winning Premierships (at least with the Broncos, if not in RU).



Can't forget Darryl Griff either - Was RU through and through before he played his first game of League in our junior side at Oxford Cavaliers; now an England international.

The BEST R.U. Converts ever.



Martin Offiah

Jonathan Davies

Alan Tait



END OF.

If only you had stopped typing after the first two



There is certainly an argument for Davies and Offiah being among the most successful Union converts ever but you are pushing it with Tait – a very fine player, but really is he in the same category as Boston or Watkins?



Or did you mean these were the best Union converts you have seen play – END OF?

Too many people have short memories or no sense of history. RL owes a lot more to RU than many would like to think.

So not Michael O'Connor then ?

To be fair to Widneslatic, Tait was a hugely exciting and talented player. The way he chimed into the line at Widnes was great to see and his depedency at full back made him one of the first on the teamsheet whoever he played for. He represented GB on 16 occasions including the World Cup final and won practically every honour in RL (unsure about Wembley) and won the Harry Sunderland trophy back to back in 88 & 89. When he went back to Union he was selected for te successful Lions tour of 97 scoring in the first test.



Not saying he was the best but he was right up there.

true if the RFU were an honest organisation wed still be playing RU

You are right, Tait was a very good player



I guess I just objected to the statement that those three were the "The BEST R.U. Converts ever... END OF" when there are obviously many other great players to consider

Can't deny nick that he was a great RL player when he came from union.

But in saying that when he played for Saints he was completely useless.

Doesn't he now coach the Aussies RU sevens side?

Although it would be RU with 13 players aside, less kicking, no lineouts or scrums which are solely designed to cripple participants. It would also be faster flowing with more emphasis on passing the ball and would still be dominated by teams in the North of england.

Offiah and Davies are great players that came from union.

Tait was a good player but not in the same league IMO.

I think it's fair to say that more Union converts have been successful in league than the other way round.