Refreshing rugby's Laws of the Game

to discourage penalty kicks, just don't allow kickers to stop the game to retrieve a kicking tee. Ban the kicking tee and sand buckets

I'd suggest three areas of the game need improvement - The scrum, the penalty kick, and kicking for territory. These could be fixed fairly easily: 1. The Scrum: Get rid of the "crouch, touch, set" and just allow the players to set the scrum as they see fit, minus the referee interference. This would reduce the power of the "hit". Also ban the lycra/spandex monstrosities that pass for jerseys these days. Add a single line into the IRB rules (as I posted above) "Jerseys shall be made of a strong, durable material, and shall be loose fitting so as to allow at least 2cm’s of slack around the upper body and torso". This would allow for a proper bind. 2. The Penalty Kick: Just ban kicking tees and sand buckets. Don't allow players to stop the game just so they can retrieve a specialist piece of equipment. They're not allowed to do that at any other part of the game, so why is it allowed at kicking time. No tees means drop goal attempts, which waste less time, are less likely to succeed, and would therefore reduce the amount of long-range penalty attempts and make it much more important to score tries under the posts. 3. Kicking for territory: Bring back the old-style mark, where it is awarded only when the player catches it cleanly while stationary. Then add a further reward by treating it as a penalty kick if it goes into touch - the team awarded the mark is awarded the resulting line out throw and can kick out on the full froom anywhere. This way, players would only kick where there is a clear advantage to be gained and it would reward well placed tactical kicking, while punishing aimless chip kicks, and "get out of jail free" kicks when under pressure.

@ Bakkies Try at Goal. Agreed, getting a try at goal was the point of the game and I'm trying ;) to get more of those conversion attempts! Yes!. Your team still gets that shot at goal and as a place kick. The point of the game should be to NOT to not have games decided on a plethora of penalties. And even though WWE ran with it, non of the law changes stop clever tactical kicking. 80M field: major stadiums that host tests and provincial rugby and are "tight" may need to remove a row of seats. Schools and clubs where it's not possible would not need to do a thing. It's the MAXIMUM allowable width, not mandatory width. Turnover: I'm basing it on the "use it or lose it" principle -- (I also want to take a very technical game and make it easier to officiate, understand and be consistent across the game.) If the ball doesn't emerge from the ruck -- regardless of who is going forward -- the other team gets the scrum feed. Having said that, Ive adjusted the scrum to give the non feeding team a better chance of winning the scrum, by feeding the scrum straight down the midline. Note that either team diving over the ball to seal it off will be sanctioned. Thanks for responding

Another problem with the modern scrum is the ridiculous Tour de France jerseys they wear nowadays that don't allow for a secure bind. Simply add one line to the IRB rulebook: "Jerseys shall be made of a strong, durable material, and shall bit loose fitting so as to allow at least 2cm's of slack around the upper body and torso". There - sorted.

An easier solution would be to simply ban kicking tees and sand buckets. Why do we allow a stoppage so that a player can retrieve a piece of specialist equipment from the sideline. That would reduce the number of attempts, lower the success rates, and reduce the amount of time wasted preparing for kicks.

1 point for penalties will encourage players to cheat more not less.

''That said, William Webb Ellis “FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT”. This seems to have been lost on the law makers. While there are many ways to play the game of Rugby, taking the ball and running with it should be at the very foundation of the game and at the heart of every law.'' Rugby is a version of football and the point of a try was to get a kick at goal. ''The Field: Widen the allowable playing surface from 70M to a maximum of 80M'' A lot of stadiums wouldn't be able to be used if that was the case. Particularly in Europe and Asia.

What if the ball is turnover in the ruck who do you award the scrum to? There is also the other scenario of the ball being trapped under a pile of bodies and the ref can't see if it's been turned over.

Also needed to add under Rucks Rucks: If the ball does not emerge from a ruck, a scrum is awarded to the other team. (This will be consistent with mauls that have no result.)

I have given this some thought over the years and put my thoughts down over the last 24 hours since I read this post. Firstly, I have played rugby since the 1960s. I have a referee’s certificate and have coached high school rugby for 8 years and I watch a lot of sports. I expect some will agree with some points and many vehemently disagree -- I doubt anyone will agree with all the proposed changes, although that would be great. I expect the IRB would have a pink fit. Basically these law changes are about simplifying the laws and making them more consistent; speeding the game up and having fewer stoppages. That said, William Webb Ellis "FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT". This seems to have been lost on the law makers. While there are many ways to play the game of Rugby, taking the ball and running with it should be at the very foundation of the game and at the heart of every law. Injuries are a vexing issue. Now the game is professional players are bigger, faster and fitter and I don't think reducing the number of players will make a big difference to injuries, but would open up the game more. 12 (6 forwards and 6 backs) or 13 players (6 forwards & 7 Backs) would certainly make the game faster and more open, but would mean the end of the flanker and I can't see that happening. (See Reserves / Subs) Here are my suggestions - apologies for the verbosity. The Field: Widen the allowable playing surface from 70M to a maximum of 80M Field Markings: Remove the 22m and make it 20m. A 20 meter line makes it easier for touch judges and refs to the apply 10 meters for lineouts and scrums. (See below). When defending the 20m area is a "red zone" Offences by defending team will have more severe implications. (See penalties) Scoring: 5 points for a try. All shots at goal 2 points (field goal, conversion and penalty) Kick Off Errors: Kick that do not go 10 meters, go into touch on the full, touch in goal/over the dead ball line or into the in goal area and touched down by the defending team, in front of the kicker; the sanction is a free kick on the halfway. (Like 7s) Lineouts: If a player takes the ball with one foot in the field of play and one foot in touch the player may play on immediately providing he keeps that same foot out and the first motion is to put the ball back into play. If the player moves the foot in touch then both feet must remain out. If a quick lineout is called back, then it should be a standard lineout -- same team to throw in, not a scrum awarded to the side that initially kicked the ball. Remove scrum option on lineout not straight. Other team only gets a lineout. If not straight the second time award a free kick to team that did not originally take the ball into touch. Scrums: Players should first bind as a team, and then as a scrum before full engagement. The call should be "Crouch", "Bind", "Set". On "crouch" both teams crouch and bind completely within their team. When all players are bound in position the Ref calls "Bind" and front rows from opposing teams engage and get a solid bind on each other -- without "the hit". The referee moves away and on the call "Set" the half must immediately feed the ball -- only when the ball is in the scrum may the forward push or front row strike. The scrum feed must be down the middle of the scrum -- "the mid-point of the ball must roll along line of touch", like a line out throw in, (not "touch the line of touch with a part of the ball" that allows an angled feed that is not parallel to the goal line). Any feed that is not straight is sanctioned with a free kick (see free kicks and penalties) This will allow a fair contest by the hooker to 1. win a tight head strike or 2. Forwards to collectively push the other team off the ball. Scrum Resets: One scrum reset only. If reset scrum fails a free kick is awarded to the team that didn't knock on. Scrum free kicks taken as a quick tap must be taken in line with the scrum mark by a player who is 10m behind the scrum (see below) Otherwise a 'slow' tap or kick when the forwards in the collapsed scrum have got to their feet and retired 10m. Scrums - Backs Scrums: Backs to stand 10 meters from line of touch – that is 10 meters from the center of the scrum consistent with lineouts. Consider: If there is a scrum on the half way line, both sets of backs – except the halves – would be behind the 10 meter lines. Exception 5 meter scrum players remain with both feet on or behind the line. Advantage rule: Don't overplay the advantage rule more than tackle/phase when outside the 20M red zone. Award "free kicks" sooner than later. Offending team's players must retreat 10m before resuming the game. Players who don't retreat and attempt to tackle/interfere with a quick tap should be yellow carded for 5 minutes. (See below – “Free N Five” in Penalties) (Consider. A player is offside and a free kick is awarded - instead of a penalty. The offending team must retreat 10 or be further sectioned. In this respect the attacking team will be more likely to tap and run, rather than kick for goal or touch. The game will open up and become faster. Free Kicks and Penalties: A penalty should only be awarded for foul play, dangerous play, deliberate offside, repeated infringements or professional/cynical offences -- everything else should be a free kick. Easy to understand for players, supporters, officials, coaches. A free kick or a penalty can be taken by touching the ball to the foot. Ball does NOT have to leave the hands. Penalty kicks are allowed at goal only when a penalty is awarded inside 20M Red Zone (Like the football penalty area.) All penalty kicks at goal are drop kicks There is no scrum option on penalty or free kick. A Kick must be taken. Sin Bin: Shorten Sin Bin to 5 minutes or until a score occurs. Award it more frequently, especially for offences inside the 20M Red Zone. (If it’s necessary to do it – do it; having 3 or 4 players off from each team off will open the game up and all players can return after a score.) “Free n Five” a radical Suggestion for Repeated Infringements: Captain has choice of "penalty kick" (at goal only if in the 20M Red Zone) OR a "Free n Five" sending the offending player to the Sin Bin for 5 minutes & a receiving a Free kick. Tackle: The tackled player must also attempt to move away from the ball – or isn’t that a requirement anymore? Rucks and Mauls - Clear Separation: Opinion: There is usually a player offside at every single ruck and maul in every game II watch. By that I mean both feet behind the last feet in a ruck. It is rarely policed and is responsible for closing the game down. This is something that must change. Immediately. All players excepting a receiver must be 5 meters from the tackled player. (Something like a line out or a scrum.) A ref or touch judge should be able to see "clear separation" Players may join a ruck or maul at anytime but must use a full arm bind. Players may leave at any time but must retire 5 meters. (Consider – if there is a tackle made midway between the half way and a 10 meter line, players would remain behind those respective lines.) Rucks & Mauls – “Use It” On the 1st call of "Use it Now" for rucks and mauls the ball must be used immediately. Rucks: On 2nd Call after 5 seconds "Use It, Ball is out!" opposing players may move around the ruck and go for the ball. Maul: Remove the second call for a maul (see below) Rucks: (Opinion: I really have no idea how to fix up rucks now the jackler is such an important part of the game. – the tackle and ruck is so hard to referee consistently, a part of me says it would be easier to ref, if we simply allowed hands in the ruck.) Mauls: When a maul stops forward progression the maul is over and the referee will call "Use it now!” No one else may join the maul. There is no second call for a maul. If the maul is stationery and ball doesn’t emerge promptly (allow 3 seconds), a scrum is awarded to the other team. When the ball reaches the last player the maul is over. The last player must break from the maul or pass it and no one else may join the maul. The ref will call “Use it now!" regardless of whether the team is going forward. If the player doesn't immediately break away from the maul or pass the ball a scrum is awarded to the other team. (When the last player has the ball and no one is bound to that player it is a form of obstruction. Additional players may bind but only if the last player does not have the ball.) Forward Pass Any pass taken in front of where the pass is made will be a forward pass. Kicking: Kick out on the full during a game is only allowed from within the in goal area -- passing back into in goal area from field of play to kick out is ok. Penalty kicks may still be kicked out on the full and the team kicking retains possession. All penalty kick at goal must be taken with a drop kick and may be taken outside the 22 to get a better angle Only try conversions may be place kicked and must be taken within 30 seconds from awarding the try. Injuries: Allow physios onto the field but definitely stop the game if they ball / players start to move toward the injury area. When a natural stoppage in play occurs such as a lineout, scrum, penalty and play is stopped, the injured player must either: 1. Resumes play immediately or 2. Be escorted to the nearest sideline with physio for further assistance and may return from behind the offside line during play or 3. Time on is called and an immediately substitution or replacement is called for or. 4. Time is called for medical evaluation/stretcher and player is removed from the field when safe to do so. The game is re started with the lineout, scrum or penalty when time was called. Serious Injury & restart: In the event of what could be a serious injury, the referee MUST halt play immediately. The game is game restarted with a tap kick to the team that had the ball from where the ball was when play was halted. Reserves / Subs / Replacements Rolling subs may be a way to increase the longevity of players and reduce injuries by giving them a rest during the game. It will also allow a game to flow with less injury time as players who are “hobbling” may leave the field for treatment and be substituted immediately. Allow 5 rolling subs per half per team: ie 10 per game. No more than one rolling substitution per player per game. Subsequent rolling subs are replacements. Subs not used in the first half may not be carried to the second. After 10 are used, a player may be fully replaced with a reserve and may not return to the field -- front row excepted. Sub Procedure Players may sub/replace during play when the player leaving has 1. First left the field from behind the offside line and alerted the touch judge 2. The sub enters the field from behind the offside line after alerting the same touch judge. During a natural stoppage such as a try, lineout, scrum or penalty kick at goal a players may swap mid field. If a rolling sub becomes a full replacement, the player cannot or does not return then a rolling sub is added to the game. Assistant Referees?? Why aren't they assisting more, especially policing at rucks and maul offsides??

I'd like to see 1 point for all gaol kicks (penalties/ drop goals/conversions) to incourage teams to kick for touch and go for the try. Scrums should be optional when there is a handling error or forward pass. Teams should be allowed to take a free-kick instead - this will help to speed up the game a bit. I am also hoping the pre-bind/ straight feed rule will improve scrums. Time-stoppages for scrum sets and re-sets should also be considered.

Whilst I agree with the general rugby fraternity sentiment ( I played for 18 years) I can't help but feel that the aversion to change will be Rugbys un-doing in Australia (no where else i might add). Imagine if in 1895 the request to pay players was accepted and rugby went professional, at that time rugby was more popular than association football in most areas of the north of England, and certainly in the colonies. So neither rugby union or rugby league exists, the one game would rugby football, what would it be like?? I don't know the answer to that but I think it would be half way between league and union, still rucking, still lineouts, fully contested and the most popular game in the world.

A number of points in response to comments- Just because I propose a reduction in the number of players to12 or 13 , does not automatically make it league. Lineouts,contested scrums, contested ball etc, will still make it uniquely rugby union. 7,s rugby is a hugely entertaining game, and a hint of what rugby could be with a bit more space available on the field. 12-13 seems like a good compromise. Nobody has responded to the issue of increased injuries due to high intensity impacts involving much larger players. People have not adequately understood the failure of union as a fan spectacle. Old props may wax lyrically about battles past, but little of these contests is either seen or appreciated by the majority of fans. There is always Greco-Roman wrestling to keep these people happy. The concept that the rules of a game, or anything for that matter, must be static or set in stone, is just plain silly. Tennis balls and golf balls have changed in size and speed in response to better racquets and clubs, and there is a similar argument for rugby to be modified. Put simply, as an intelligent species, it is worth applying the principles of intelligence. Intelligence can be defined as "The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge"., ie . To make changes on the basis of observations. This is how humanity has lifted itself from humble beginnings, and a similar application to rugby is not only common sense, it is also becoming a necessity. The way rugby has changed over the past decades, due to professionalism, is having a negative impact on rugby as a spectacle and is becoming a less popular option for young Australians. If rugby does not change, it could easily fade into irrelevance sooner than you might think. A true rugby purist would prefer the sport to thrive rather than fade away because administrators were "fiddling ,while Rome burned". ps. Apology for "trolling" comments would be appreciated. I love rugby at its best: it just doesn,t happen often enough.

Look at how deep the Irish flyhalf stood. Ella was similar on the '84 GS tour. No way could you stand that deep in the pocket in modern Rugby and launch an attacking move.

+1 Lets call it Rugby though, as it is the original and should rightly use the name.

Pick a code, you have sevens, League or Union to choose from, I'll leave sevens and League alone, then you leave Union alone. ;)

I know. A lot of Ausie rugby fans are fans but not of rugby. Everything is wrong, everything has to be changed. My personal opinion is that rugby is the best game in the world by far. Super Rugby is the best comp by far.

*Scrums resets will almost disappear when they bring in the pre-jersey bind rule in.

Not sure it your writing this article as a troll or not. This article is basically suggesting changing Rugby's rules to resemble Rugby League. In Rugby League you have 2 props that resemble locks/flankers/number 8's in Rugby, 2 second rowers (locks) and 1 lock (number 8) that resemble flankers/number 8's in Rugby, the hooker is basically a scrum half in Rugby, so basically this article suggests getting rid of all tight 5 forward body types. Basically this is suggesting we copy the Rugby League player size and position trends, but use Rugby rules minus the maul. I for one completely disagree completely with this suggestion. One of the best things about Rugby is the different body types and skills required for each position, the other being the complex rules, this means you have to used your skill, strength/speed, fitness and you BRAIN to succeed at this sport. You have a point about the Australian public not understanding Rugby over Rugby League and Australian Football, but the reason for this is not due to the complex rules or the "boring" tactics of the teams, it is due to a lack of exposure to the game. The domination of these codes in Australia is due to three reasons: 1. The early professionalism (semi or full) of these these codes in the country. Both Rugby League and Australian Football have been open to professionalism from day one, Rugby did not become professional until 1995, while the VFL was formed in 1877 and Rugby League arrived in Australia in 1907. Take the USA for example: Baseball, Basketball, Hockey and American Football are all popular, the reason for this not due to the simple rules or exciting gameplay, not at all, but because of professionalism (semi or full) of these sports in the country early on. The same can be said about football in many countries. The only real exception to this example is Rugby in New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji where Rugby has been popular from day one and was not challenged too much by other codes due to the lack of the marketing revenue available in these small countries. Rugby survived its amateur era in Argentina, South Africa, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France (is the second favourite winter team sport in these countries) by it's University and upper-class links and subtle under table player payments and incentives. 2. The impressive marketing campaigns of the NRL and AFL competitions. Both the AFL/NRL and AFL have run many very successful marketing campaigns over the past few decades, this has contributed to both codes popularity dramatically. 3. Tradition in various parts of Australia. Although short when compared to other types of tradition. Sporting tradition in an area plays a large part in the what sport is popular. Depending of which side of the Barassi Line you are from will greatly determine what code you play or follow, east of the line is Rugby League, west is Australian Football territory, the Brumbies and Reds (only just) the are the only Professional Rugby teams in Australia that are more popular based on crowd attendance than the rival codes in the area. Scrums resets will almost disappear when they bring in the jersey bind rule in. I do believe we should decrease penalties and drop goals to 2 points though and give more yellow cards for offences. Reserves should be left at 22 players (front row needs to hard up). You won't find many in the Rugby community that support this article. Perhaps you should suggest to the Rugby League community playing a 13 man game with rucks and lineouts.

I'm starting to think that Australia should invent a third code of rugby because they seem to be the only one's that want these drastic changes to union, perhaps a union/league hybrid with a few tweaks would best suit the Australian public. Please leave union alone as the rest of the world don't want these drastic changes, this is the game we love. Oh and the worldwide growth of union suggests that it is in a healthy place.