With rugby attempting to become more global, there are some aspects to the game that, in my view, need to be looked at. One of those areas, and I certainly don’t want to make it any more complicated than it needs to be, is the area of awarding a penalty.
At the moment, it’s a bit of a lottery, and there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to repeated infringements.
In some matches, the same player may be penalised three or four times before they are at least warned, and in other matches, it might be only a couple of times and they are yellow carded.
There is no real consistency in this area, and it confuses the players and crowd alike.
Is it possible to introduce a system similar to that used in Basketball, with personal and team fouls? If the same player is penalised three or more times, for example, they are then yellow carded?
Obviously ,it would depend on the severity (referees can use their discretion) – so if it was a dangerous tackle then they may be yellow carded instantly, but if it was for repeated infringements (the number agreed upon by lawmakers) by the same player, it would be an automatic yellow card.
If there were ‘x’ number of penalties by the team, then a ‘team’ foul would come into play.
It wouldn’t encourage players to foul, because they would still get penalised, but at least they would know where they stand. If they had ‘x’ number of penalites to their name, they would know where they stood, and be reluctant to penalise further.
This system works well in Basketball and has done for many years.
Why not rugby?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Phil Waugh is hopeful that windfalls from the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the 2027 RWC will be more than enough to pay back the debt.
Australian-born England rugby star Billy Vunipola has been tasered and arrested after an alleged violent incident in Majorca, local reports have said. Vunipola's domestic…
Six months after the Wallabies’ worst World Cup result, Rugby Australia has announced a $9.2 million deficit from the 2023 season. The Roar can…
Sometimes it’s best to start at the finish. The Waratahs winning the Super W final 50-14 against the Drua was the cap to a…
After watching both NRL and Super Rugby over the weekend, it's clear there is significant talent coming through from both. But only one of…
The Tahs won 50-14 after going through the 2024 season undefeated and avenging the semi-final loss last year to Fijian Drua.
