Better Rugby Rules

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Reference:  ELVs get the green light

ASSISTANT REFEREES

*Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner required when appointed by a match organiser

MY COMMENT: No big deal.

POSTS AND FLAGS AROUND THE FIELD* The corner posts are no longer considered to be in touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post

MY COMMENT: No big deal.

LINE-OUT AND THROW

*If a team puts the ball back into their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain of ground

* A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team’s own goal line

* There is no restriction on the number of players who can participate in the line-out from either side (minimum of two)

* The receiver in a line-out must stand 2 metres back from the line-out

* The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball may stand in the area between the 5 metre line and touch line but must be 2 metres away from the line-out

* Line-out players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in

* The lifting of line-out jumpers is permitted

MY COMMENT: Not good, more forwards standing in the back line, more structured play removed from the game. Promotes the field wide defensive trench. Is this not a rugby league touch line restart?

MAUL

* Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down

* Remove reference in Law to heads and shoulders not to be lower than hips

MY COMMENT: Not good, mauls are dead, you wont see malls any more. The above rule change and ‘use it or lose it’ make mauls to risky as a tactic of choice.

SCRUM

* Introduction of an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum

* Scrum-half offside lines (must be in close proximity to the scrum as present Law or must retreat five metres)

MY COMMENT: Good, keeps forwards and backs separate and allows more space for attack.

SANCTIONS

* For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10 – Foul Play, the sanction is a free-kick

MY COMMENT: Depends, means less stiff arm penalties, therefore either a scrum or tap kick can occur, so play depends upon captains tactic selection. Refs have less opportunity to award points to a side and determine out come of the match, that’s good.

TACKLE AND RUCK

* If the ball is unplayable at the breakdown, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a free-kick

MY COMMENT: A move away from the team going forward, gets the ball. Favors those that can slow the ball down, then you get rewarded for it. So I swing to say most likely not good.

MAUL

* If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free-kick

MY COMMENT: Acceptable.   

Final thoughts…  Allowing to pull down a maul was a real disappointment. What stupid ideology is running the committees of the IRB ? Why the need for 2 man lineouts ? See my comming up post on tactics and the ELVs.