One Australian promoter has started the wheels moving for that sort of match, albeit between the Kangaroos and the Wallabies.
Though negotiations are in their infancy, it is hoped to play a match between the two Australian national rugby sides in Sydney next October, under a combined set of rules from the two games.
The Daily Telegraph in Sydney yesterday reported both the Australian Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby League had been approached about a hybrid game.
Promoter Phil Franks told the newspaper negotiations were in their infancy but he was hoping to generate an estimated $15 million, with at least $2 million to go to charity. But the idea had been downplayed by the Australian Rugby Union, which said yesterday it has no interest in participating in the game.
Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr was just as dismissive of the plan, highlighting the different physical demands of both sports as an insurmountable obstacle.
Carr said he had heard rumours about the proposal late last week but had not been contacted by anyone connected to it.
He could not see how the two teams could play each other safely given the different physical demands of the two codes.
Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer and former Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton have both supported the idea of the game, and would be on a committee to help draw up the rules.
Although the prospect of watching Greg Inglis take on Stirling Mortlock in the centres does offer appeal, there are plenty of fish hooks and obstacles to overcome.
League is a game where there is no contest for possession.
Once the tackle is made, the attacking player simply gets up and starts again.
In rugby, that battle for possession in absolutely fierce and whoever wins that often wins the game. But to most rugby league players a ruck or maul is completely foreign.
Someone like Richie McCaw would have a field day against league players at the breakdown.
Equally line-outs and power scrummaging are crucial in union but have no place in league.
League players would have the advantage of having better line speed, and rugby props such as Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock would be of little use in the combined game.
There is talk of the hybrid game having no lifting in the line-out, and just five forwards, but who knows what it will achieve, apart from generating pots of cash.
