For many rugby aficionados, the sevens version of the game is deeply unsatisfying: a skim milk, decaffeinated, lukewarm concoction.
At the same time, there are aspects of the fifteen-a-side game that currently make it a very boring spectacle – in particular, the time wasting and over-emphasis on kicking.
What I want to propose is a shortened form of the game designed for knockout carnivals which would retain most of the elements that make rugby so distinctive. There would be strong emphasis on physical engagement and the scoring of tries.
Essential elements of nines rugby
The Laws of the Game would apply to the nine-a-side game, subject to the following variations:
Playing field: The field of play is narrowed from not more than 70 metres to not more than 40 metres. There is no need for goal posts and crossbars.
Player numbers: At any time each team has no more than nine players on the field. Teams also have to have at least two replacements/substitutes suitably trained and experienced to play in the front row. The total number of replacements/substitutes nominated cannot exceed five of whom only three can be used in a match.
Method of scoring: Tries are the only method of scoring.
Duration of matches: A match consists of two halves of not more than ten minutes playing time plus lost time and extra time. However, the two halves of a competition final match may last no longer than fifteen minutes plus lost time and extra time. There will be an interval of not more than one minute at half-time, or two minutes during a competition final.
When scores are tied at full-time, extra time is played in periods of five minutes. After each period, the teams change ends without an interval. In extra time, the team that scores points first is immediately declared the winner, without any further play.
Replacement of front row players: If a frontrow forward leaves the field and the team cannot provide a suitably trained replacement, a penalty try will be awarded against the team and the match will be continued with three-man scrums.
If the referee has signalled for a scrum to take place and a front row forward is unable to take part in the scrum without delay, the referee may require that that player be temporarily replaced.
Foul play: Temporary suspension of a player will be for a period of three minutes.
Mark: Marks may be claimed anywhere within the field of play or in the team’s own in-goal.
Throw-in: When a player anywhere in the field of play kicks directly into touch other than from a penalty, there is no gain in ground.
Five-man scrum: A scrum must have five players from each team.
Lineout: The player throwing the ball into the lineout shall have a maximum of twenty seconds from when the lineout begins to form to throw the ball in.
With these variations to the Laws we would have a game which is played with minimum time wasting and delays. Features which make rugby so distinctive, namely serious scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls, are retained.
And importantly, the only method of winning games is to score tries.
The amount of kicking would be reduced, firstly because teams gain no advantage from kicking out on the full from their own 22, and secondly the use of the up-and-under is largely negated by the defending side being able to claim a mark anywhere on the field.
At the same time, teams would continue to be rewarded for accurate kicking where the ball bounces in the field of play before going into touch.
Narrowing the field of play is appropriate because the number of backline players is effectively reduced from seven to four.
Reduction in player numbers is likely to be of benefit to the fifteen-a-side game because players will have to focus on correct technique at the breakdown with referees having a much clearer view of what is going on.
Spectators and viewers will also be better able to see the intricacies of scrums, lineouts and breakdown contests, which may have the effect of winning new supporters for the code.
Nine-a-side rugby will be a fast-moving, physically demanding and entertaining form of rugby which is complementary to sevens but likely to appeal to a different player and supporter base.
Paley
Roar Rookie
I've been to several 9 a side rugby tournaments. It's a decent enough reduced version of the full game.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Actually, the best part of this is the whole 'get rid of the goals altogether'. Rugby where tries win games. Radical, but it just might work.
Michael
Guest
Good idea Bruce. In Febraury each year Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators(Gold Coast) run a 10s competition each year and it is a huge success as it allows for tries to be scored and players to chance their hand and show their true skills. They use mainly 15 a side rules but the changes you put in would make players have to play more than be conservative.
Andrew Logan
Guest
I have to agree with the concensus - Tens is the short form of choice, and the big boys love it. Penalty kicks are extremely rare, and conversions are drops so only about half go over....ergo tries become the scoring method of choice. Because of the space using the big field, teams are pretty reluctant to give the ball away by kicking, because running back against 4 or 5 defenders is a pretty attractive option for anyone who has some pace. Get down to Bondi Tens at Woollahra Oval #2 in Feb 2010 and check it out - you'll be amazed how close it ends up being to your proposal.
AndyS
Guest
I'd've said that the proposed modifications aren't minor, but nor would they be necessary. Tens uses a full size field and the extra space achieves pretty much all the opening of play you could want. Why shrink the field then come up with a whole bunch of ways to overcome the natural response to space being cramped? Just don't cramp it in the first place and allow players to play to the same laws they are used to.
Bruce Ross
Roar Pro
sam, if you believe that the total elimination of goals, penalty goals and field goals as well as allowing marks to be claimed anywhere on the field plus the virtual elimination of kicking out on the full within your own 22 are "(extremely) minor tweaks to the rules", then you and I have very different perceptions. Would you still regard them as "(extremely) minor" if they were introduced into the 15-a-side game? They are certainly much more drastic than what was encompassed in the ELV proposals. I also have absolutely no doubt that narrowing the field by 40% would produce a very different dynamic than what currently applies under the Tens rules.
sam a
Guest
Bruce, I've played a fair bit of 10's, and besides changing the field dimensions and some (extremely) minor tweaks to the rules (your proposed lineouts, marks etc) what you have written here is a proposal for 10's rugby with one man less. As a front rower, with two other front rowers alongside me in every 10's game, I can confirm that it's OK for the big men.
Dean Pantio
Guest
"What I want to propose is a shortened form of the game designed for knockout carnivals which would retain most of the elements that make rugby so distinctive. There would be strong emphasis on physical engagement and the scoring of tries." Welcome to 10s rugby. "The regulations I am proposing for 9-a-side probably bias the game towards the tight forwards." Then you aren't interested in the scoring of tries by any means a spectator would find interesting. ;)
Bruce Ross
Roar Pro
Pablo As I understand it, most 10-a-side tournaments follow fairly closely the Laws used for Sevens games, while some others basically adhere to those applying to 15-a-side. Distinctive features of what I propose include: 1. Narrowing the field in the same proportion as the reduction in the number of players so that the structure and dynamics of play are similar to that of the full game. 2. Having tries as the only method of scoring. 3. Provisions to virtually ensure that 5-player contested scrums are maintained throughout the match. 4. Allowing marks to be claimed anywhere on the field of play. 5. Dispensing with the advantage gained from kicking out on the full from a team's own 22. 6. Speeding up the game by requiring the ball to be thrown quickly into lineouts. Because of the vast open spaces on the field Sevens rugby is only really suited to fast backs and loose forwards. The same applies to some extent to the Tens variation. The regulations I am proposing for 9-a-side probably bias the game towards the tight forwards. Because of this, as I pointed out, Nines and Sevens can be viewed as complementing each other in terms of the type of players and supporters they would appeal to. In terms of style of play I anticipate that a Nines game would have much more in common with the full version of the game than a Tens game.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Isn't this what they have with 10 a side? Like Hong Kong tens, Cobar 10s, etc?