How to replace the scrum

This "solution" would certainly open up the game for one very long tackle, and then shut it down for the second tackle. Teams would play hot potato seven a side league trying to to get the most out of wide open spaces, then when they were finally tackled the game would stop while the forwards ran onto the field and caught up to where the ball was being played. If the scrum is to be abandoned, a better solution would be to simply have a tap or turnover, however I don't think this is a good idea either. My solution is to fix the scrum instead of giving in to poor packing and bad feeds that have deteriorated the scrum, and to take a leaf out of AFL. The AFL uses a referee to bounce the ball, why can't we use a ref to feed the scrum? The touch judges can watch for offside, one ref can watch over the scrum itself, and the other ref can feed the scrum creating a fair contest for the ball, bringing the roll of hooker back into the game.

I don't mind the scrums too much and love watching a try being scored straight from a scrum feed. If I would change anything I would suggest make it so that the scrums are contested.

I think something needs to be done, as it's more an embarrassment to the game if anything. If it is to be improved then I like your idea that the forwards stand on the sideline until the ball is tapped, alternatively somebody said just move the scrum to 10m from the sideline to give the backs more space to run a set play with some open space.

We can't justify the names - other than 100+ years of history. But each of those positions have more important responsibilities than where the pack in a scrum.

I don't disagree with that, as such, but the current system does add a level of strategy to the scrum. The captain has to make a strategic decision about who to put in and who to leave out and what each persons role will involve. Will they get the strategy right? Watch on to find out, I suppose.

Hi Epiquin see my comment above i would wholeheartedly agree with you re the scrum takes the forwards out of the game if they all packed in the scrum in their rightful position as designated by the number on their back, then we have backs on backs and could get some more exciting set plays from the scrum

i think a decent thing to start with is that if you are a forward you must pack in the scrum and not have all your backrowers out in the centers preventing the attacking team from getting anything going as the backrowers are traditionally far better defensively than the backs and the hooker/dummy half shouldn't be in the locks position to pass the ball off the back of the scrum as he is traditionally a better passer than the lock these 2 things are really straight forward and easy to implement When there is a scrum you have to be in the position the number on your back says you play full stop Simple

Not disagreeing that the scrum can go but has anyone considered what positions we will call the players who no longer take part in the scrum? We no longer can justify the position of prop, hooker, second rower or lock if the scrum goes. Just another issue to consider if we want to make a change.

I see this as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Scrums take forwards out of the game, as does your solution. So why bother changing? At least with the scrum there's the off chance that the defending team will come up with the ball. I don't think it will make any difference to the attacking team's strategy at all.

so just allow pushing then?

Yes, but it still lets the backs have a free roam if they want for one play, just like scrums almost do. It takes no time at all for forwards to move to the same sideline.

yes, all forwards have a foot on the sideline to start the tap.

Just take the tap and get on with the game. There are too many interruptions and this suggestion you have made won't help in this regard.

I think just a handover and play the ball where you would normally have a scrum. Unless its in the last five minutes of a game, every scrum takes a minimum of 30-40 seconds to pack and up to 1:15. It doesn't sound like much but that adds up very quickly. When you watch old games scrums are packed straight away - there's none of the standing around or working out whether your fullback or hooker is going to pack at lock.

This would be very interesting to watch. I don't think it will catch on though. Do both team's forwards have to stand on the sideline? Also because it would be first tackle, I think most coaches would be inclined to do what they already do, which is to get one of their big boppers to run straight and hard, rather than risking a mistake on the first tackle by throwing the ball around.

Allow teams to contest the scrum would be nice. I remember watching a game a few weeks ago, where the Ref told the "defending" team off for pushing in the scrum to try and win against the feed. However, I don't want the Union scrum where (as a casual fan only) I only see Scrums as a Penalty factory

Ahh, so u like the ball-rolling ceremony that doesnt even form properly and is an embarrassment to the code? Cmon mate, the scrum is a joke and during Origin the spidercam shows us very well how these things dont even form properly. There is no pushing. Scrums are a farce

Move the scrum back to the 10m mark so back lines have more room, or allow attacking teams to choose where they want the scrum 10m or 20m.

"nothing could possibly be worse" The Union scrum is worse, it takes an eternity, at least league scrums dont delay the game. It would be nice if they were a bit more competitive, but as long as they dont disrupt the game I'm ok with them. Your Idea sounds worth trialing though.