No sport better represents the north/south divide in England than rugby league.

The code of the north, League came about when the northern clubs took a pragmatic decision to put professionalism on an official footing and set up their own union - to compensate their largely working-class playing group, who were disadvantaged by amateurism, unlike the mainly middle-class southern clubs.

Ostracised by the Rugby Football Union, rugby league set out on its own path and has managed to maintain its distinct identity, despite the greater exposure given to union.

The game really took root in Australia, where it remains one of the most popular winter games, far exceeding the appeal of rugby union there, and has begun to make real progress in New Zealand, despite the dominance of the All Blacks.

Despite attempts to breathe life into the game in France and the splitting of the Great Britain team into its constituent nations, Australia and New Zealand are streets ahead of the competition.

Domestically, Super League is the main competition, complemented by the Challenge Cup, whose final is traditionally played at Wembley every year.

Super League consists of 14 clubs, including Catalans Dragons from France and Celtic Crusaders based in Wales, who have each agreed a franchise agreement with the Rugby Football League to try and ensure financial stability for clubs and good standards of facilities for spectators.

Under that competition is the newly-formed Championship, which currently features traditional clubs such as Widnes and Featherstone alongside the French entrant Toulouse, who missed out on a Super League franchise.