World Rugby has outlined the next steps in the process of reimagining rugby’s entertainment factor, part of a wider mission to grow audience share over the next decade.
www.world.rugby
World Rugby said:
First phase: Law Application Guidelines reinforcing existing law
From 19 March, there will be an expectation of strict application of current law by referees globally via the following Law Application Guidelines, focusing on speeding up play:
Law 15.17: Players will be expected to use the ball more quickly when the ball has been secured at a ruck/breakdown. Referees will be asked to call "use it" earlier, which will begin the five second count to play the ball away.
Law 19.10: Hookers will be expected to maintain a full brake foot to aid scrum stability and safety during the engagement sequence. Any adjustment must maintain the act of the brake.
Law 6.29: Strict reinforcement of the 2022 law trial relating to water carriers entering the field of play.
Hear hear on all of those - the laws exist, just apply the damned things!
World Rugby said:
Second phase: Law amendment recommendations for global adoption
A package of law amendments will be considered by the World Rugby Council at its 9 May meeting. Each is aimed at enhancing game continuity:
Recommendation to make adjustments to Law 10 in relation to players being put onside when there are kicks in open play, as per the current Super Rugby Pacific trial which aims to reduce kick tennis.
Removal of the scrum option from a free-kick at a scrum, reducing dead time.
Outlawing the practice of the 'croc roll', reinforcing player welfare focus
I know I'm in a minority on this, but I don't particularly like the idea of completely removing the clause about being played onside by the opponents - adapt it, sure, but not simply remove (I'd say to actively retreat (no slowest-walk-ever competitions) to their own half, &/ allow 10m rather than 5m of ball movement to be put back onside.
Not scrummaging off a scrum free-kick seems... fine, I guess (I'd rather downgrade SOME scrum penalties to FC whilst we're at it, but freely admit that I don't know what's happening in scrums)
Wait - I thought the Croc roll was already illegal?
World Rugby said:
Third phase: Closed law trials
Unions and competition owners will be encouraged to implement a package of closed law trials which can be adopted at domestic or cross-border level, aimed at enhancing game continuity:
Expansion of the shot clock for scrum and lineouts and reduced kicking time.
Ability to mark the ball inside the 22m line from a restart, promoting attacking options.
The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice.
Protection of the nine at the base of the scrum, ruck and at the maul following successful trials in Major League Rugby in the USA and in elite and community competitions in New Zealand.
Play on for lineout not straight if the throw in is uncontested.
"shot clock" expansion seems fine, been asking for something similar for a while. Of course, it'll just mean that every set piece, someone takes a knee and gets some ice spray whilst they talk tactics, but at least the clock will be off - 80 minute game is soon going to take 180 minutes to complete!
I'd rather make marks harder and less frequent than allowing more of them - but I guess they want to stop the ruck, caterpillar, clear sequence.
Is anyone (not Australian) that put off by mauling?
Protect the SH at the scrum - yes, absolutely - stop those silly bollockses just tackling each other whilst the ball is tied up. Stop the defending SH advancing beyond the hips of the flanker would do that, whilst keeping him close enough to tackle a pick and go for 8 or 9 down his channel.
For rucks and mauls, if your SH needs more protection, then it's your forwards' job to provide it. I guess I'm happy to try things, but am instinctively against these bits.
Yes please. Just throw someone up, and make sure they can't cheat (too much).
World Rugby said:
Fouth phase: Specialist working groups
Specialist working groups will be established to further explore aspects identified by the Shape of the Game forum for further consideration. Recommendations will be made to Council.
On- and off-field sanctions: Comprehensive review of the sport's disciplinary and sanctioning processes with the objective of streamlining, increasing simplicity, consistency and fan understanding. A key consideration will be the potential to combine stronger off-field sanctions for foul play with a global red card trial where a carded player is removed for the duration of the match but may be replaced by another player after 20 minutes. The final proposal will go to World Rugby's Council in May.
Tackle/Ruck/Breakdown: A major review of safety and spectacle issues as they relate to the breakdown, e.g. the impact of contesting the ball on the floor, jackal as opposed to an upright driving game.
Television Match Official (TMO) protocol: Determine the optimal remit for the TMO protocol, while setting new minimum standards for technology providers.
Replacements: Examine the latest research on the impact of fatigue and the number and timing of replacements in the elite game to determine options that might create more space on the field while improving injury rates.
Fan experience: Build rugby's attention share via a fan-focused view of how the game is marketed, a consistent approach to presentation of the sport across all media environments and a focus on the moments in the game that really engage fans. This will include a thorough review of the language and terminology that is used within the game.
Tackle height: Consider the results of the community tackle height trials across 11 unions and consider appropriateness for elite rugby.
Consistency in the disciplinary process can only be a good thing
Please stop those shoulder charges into static and defenceless players (I believe there's already a law covering this, 9.11 "Dangerous Play" - just add it to the examples given
TMO remit should be being tinkered with quarterly anyway
Replacements - interesting, no idea how that's likely to come out.
Fan Experience - ref-mic would be the big one, broadcast it to any radio app.
Tackle height - this should really be in phase two - to be applied in the next season after May 9th meeting. Why the hell isn't it?
World Rugby said:
Fifth phase: Examine impact of specific aspects of the game in new Rugby Labs
New Rugby Labs, which enable World Rugby to test out new aspects of law in a controlled environment evaluated by data and player feedback, will be utilised to examine the impact of aspects of the game that either have an impact on speed or safety. These are likely to include the scrum engagement sequence and the tackle/ruck area.
Wait and see
Puja post_id=319984 time=1710932477 user_id=78 said:
I still stand by my suggestion of outlawing kicking the ball from a breakdown - the ball must be passed or carried outside of 5 metres radius from a breakdown before a kick can be made. Sure, it'll mean a lot of kicks currently made by the 9 will just be made by the 10 instead, but passing the ball at least means something could happen, whether that's a fumble, or the 10 seeing something's on, or a charge down. Right now, it's just another set piece and, unlike the others, one where competition for the ball isn't allowed.
I've always liked this suggestion (no bias from being a SH who hated box kicks); I also like the suggestion of "no players (either team) can be added to the ruck once the ref has called that the ball is won.
