Rugby league faces slow death

Rugby league's World Cup failed to pack the grounds

Rugby league could become a game of the past if its ruling body does not act swiftly to safeguard its future, Scotland World Cup coach Shaun McRae has warned.

McRae, who is also coach of Super League side Hull, also dismissed suggestions that the four home nations should combine in a Great Britain team in order to compete on equal terms with runaway world champions Australia.

He fears that the sport is fast losing ground on rival code rugby union and that moves must be made to stop the 13-man game's best players switching codes.

"To take the game back to the M62 corridor, it will eventually become extinct," said McRae.

"Not tomorrow, but there will be a gradual process of dying out.

"I'm not prepared to put a timescale on it, but I think it will happen unless something is done."

Shaun McRae (left) coached the Scots' effort

The affable Australian, involved in the last three World Cups in coaching teams for Australia, New Zealand and, this year, Scotland, argued that the only advantage rugby union has over league is its international scene.

It is this that had attracted players such as Lestyn Harris, Keiron Cunningham and Jason Robinson, he claims.

McRae opposes the new Super League format - Wigan will play St Helens four times next season - and says that franchises must be handed to a Welsh and French club to boost revenue.

The former Wigan coach backed the idea of a Six Nations-style competition but rejected calls for the home nations to be scrapped in favour of a stronger Great Britain side.

He added: "I think we have got a wonderful spectator sport.

"Anybody that watched that game on Saturday (World Cup final) and did not think it was a wonderful game of rugby league does not really appreciate sport.

"But we are still not attracting enough people to the games and a lot of that is down to the fact that we don't have enough international rugby league."