What has professionalism meant for the humble fan? We asked BBC Sport's Six Nations bloggers to give their views on the rugby revolution.Amateur rugby was so different - skill and fitness levels were much poorer, the game was slower, there were more set pieces and fewer phases of play.
But when it turned professional, the game changed almost overnight.
Money flooded in - straight to the players' pockets - fitness and skill levels rose dramatically, the game became a multiple-phase beast and defence became the key component. As a result, the game has certainly become better too watch.
By way of a negative, some clubs folded under the weight of players' wages and there is now just too much rugby shown. That's made it a little boring.
In terms of player burnout and a loss of grassroots support, rugby professionalism has not been far off a disaster. The amateur game needs serious attention.
The Rugby Football Union needs to cut down the number of games, such is the intensity. Player careers are getting shorter, so they should be limited to 22-24 games a season.
England needs a smaller Premiership, central contracts for 50 elite players and increased RFU funding to clubs to give them credit for the players they lose to England duty.
Added to that, I also believe the game should be strictly amateur below the Premiership and National League One.
Back in the amateur days I can remember a vibrant club scene, especially in the Borders with Melrose being a stand-out side.
And at international level, Scotland had a very successful period during my youth, culminating in the 1990 Grand Slam.
It's difficult to say how successful professionalism has been up here. We lack world-class players at the moment, in the same way that some of the poor Welsh and Irish sides did in the 1990s. Whether that is actually down to professionalism, I doubt it.
The main change needed to turn things around is for the Scottish pro sides to be franchised. That's a must in order to bring in fresh ideas and possibly fresh funding.
And the Scottish Rugby Union providing a guarantee of three teams for three years will be a big help.
From an Irish perspective, the change since professionalism has been huge in every way.
The emphasis moved from club to provincial as local clubs were deemed too small to compete meaningfully or support a professional structure.
This was and still is a bone of contention as proud and famous clubs such as Ballymena feel they are very much playing second fiddle to the provincial side. I understand this but feel that for the greater good of Irish rugby this was the only option.
Professionalism in Ireland has been incredibly successful. We always saw ourselves as the most amateur of all the amatuer nations.
All of a sudden we found we had a tremendously well organised and successful structure in place, the provincial teams have forged proud and feared reputations in European rugby, and the international side has benefitted hugely as a result.
The fitness levels are on a par with any nation in world rugby, and this has been borne out by results over the last five years. Our central structure ensures the national team takes precedence at all times, and the players are extremely well looked after.
I'd still like to see fewer games in the season - the season is so cluttered with big games, especially at club level in England, that there is no doubt the players are picking up more and more injuries and their careers are in danger of being shortlived.
I also think it is a crazy idea to turn a league (eg the Zurich Premiership) into a cup just to swell the coffers. Teams have won the league by a country mile only to lose a cup final played long after their team has lost focus, and that's ridiculous.
We still need to develop the second and third tier nations. Rugby must do all it can to develop and support the Pacific Island teams and Argentina, who if they were playing on a level playing field would have many more big name scalps under their belts by now.
It's good to see the IRB president, Syd Millar, taking interest in these matters, as long as something is actually done, and soon.
In the amateur days, the camaraderie and socialising were far greater, and, when it turned professional, Wales certainly took its time to embrace professionalism.
Players were paid too much initially but at least the flood of them leaving for rugby league finally stopped. That drift of players north had seriously diluted the Welsh national side.
With enhanced training, player physique changed massively and each year they are getting bigger, faster and stronger, but to the detriment of skill.
There's no doubting professionalism had to come and it has just begun to pay off in Wales. Our regional teams are well placed in the Celtic League and the international team's results speak for themselves.
Players are better prepared and provide a better spectacle but there are changes that could be made.
I don't like the squad system - it's no longer the best team winning but the one with a manager who can best handle his substitutes.
Some players are designed to last just 60 minutes in a game, others solely 20. It's a farce as a contest.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
