Rugby Reloaded #158 - XFL discusses merger with the Canadian Football League, with Spencer Kassimir

Barely six months after Super League pulled out of Toronto, the US-based XFL is now in talks with the Canadian Football League (CFL) about a potential merger. This week's 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to football scholar Spencer Kassimir about the history of the XFL and the CFL, the background to the talks, and what lessons can be learned by other football codes.

For more on the history of the CFL take a listen to ‘Rugby Reloaded' episode 32 on the origins of the Canadian game. And for an excellent primer on the rules of the gridiron football codes, take a look at the great Ninh Ly’s YouTube videos on the rules of the CFL, the rules of the XFL, and how the Canadian game differs from the American version.

The Toronto University team that was the first winner of Canadian football’s Grey Cup - it this time the game was still called rugby despite playing very different rules.

The Toronto University team that was the first winner of Canadian football’s Grey Cup - it this time the game was still called rugby despite playing very different rules.