Local Sport

The DaVinci Cross-code

As East Devon Eagles prepare to face Plymouth Titans in the South West Rugby League Conference Play Off Final, fans and experts alike are once again scrutinising the work of Leonardo Da Vinci for hidden clues and messages to explain the success of the co-existence of the two codes – Union and League.

This season has been the first time that a South West Rugby League competition has taken place with all five teams hailing from the Westcountry – four from Devon and one from Somerset.

The Plymouth Titans finished top of the League whilst the Exmouth-based East Devon Eagles won the Devon Cup. These two sides will now face each other for the title of South West Conference Champions, with the winners progressing to the national playoffs. The season looks to have been a huge success with Rugby League being played in the summer and Rugby Union in the winter, many players have been able to take part in both.

Plymouth Titans Chairman Paul Willerton is full of support for the scheme - "Down here in the South West it's absolutely the case that the two codes combine, no league player doesn't have a union club as well... They like to keep their skills active and play for the enjoyment of the game. Two of the clubs in the South West Division are even based in Rugby Union clubs. The South West is doing very well in rugby and a lot of my colleagues are rugby union men but closet watchers of rugby league."

However, it is not just the fans who have benefited from 12 months rugby a year – the younger, fitter Union backs are able to 'cross-codes' and take part in free running Rugby League on firm surfaces, whilst the slower, plumper Union forwards can enjoy their summers discussing tactics and planning rucks from the bar.

The spectacle of two different sports with one common ball co-existing in harmony many believe was the an age old idea acknowledged by Leonardo Da Vinci. In his painting The Last Supper, there are 13 men – just like a Rugby League team – all sitting down for a post match meal, with three windows behind them signifying the number of points for a penalty/drop goal in Rugby Union. The Last Supper is related in the Gospel of John 13:21, notable as Great Britain won the Rugby League Ashes series against Australia, defeating them 1-3 way back in 1921.

However, the Gospel of John 20:17 tells of the resurrection and ascension, as England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 beating Australia 20-17! Coincidence? The price Judas was paid for his betrayal was 30 pieces of silver – allegedly the same as the figure used to tempt Jonathan Davies to cross codes. In 1513 Da Vinci moved to Rome where Raphael and Michelangelo were both working, 15 and 13 being the number of players in a Union and League team, and his co-existence with the great Renaissance artists showed that experts in their field can co-exist and influence each other to greatness. Furthermore, the secret society which Da Vinci was supposedly a part of – The Priory Of Sion – is actually an amended version of its' original name – The Try And Conversion.

Sceptics are still unconvinced by the growing body of evidence, but for Union fans there will always be one Worshipped entity - JW superstar!