World Rugby has sanctioned law trials during two matches in Queensland next month as the game looks for ways to get faster and increase ball in play time.
A number of law innovations for the Queensland Challenger series – between a Reds Development Squad and a President’s XV – will be in effect, after a similar trial between NSW and ACT XVs last weekend
Changes to how the set-piece and ruck is time-managed and officiated will be trialled, as well as improved clarifications to deliberate knock-downs and advantage laws.
Time limits will be placed on removing the ball from the ruck, packing the scrum, taking penalties, restart and conversions, and delivering line-outs.
Wonky throws will only be penalised if the opposing team is contesting, while there will be no yellow cards for deliberate knock-downs and only three phases of advantage.
Rugby has been under the microscope from friends and foe this season, with issues over time wasting and a rash of yellow cards. The Springboks vs, Argentina Test last weekend featured 39 penalties, while Australia’s discipline has been a major issue with 12 cards in their nine Tests this year.
“What’s he supposed to do? He’s going for the ball and gets sent off,” said Wallabies fullback Andrew Kellaway. “As a fan I hate to see that – as a player I hate to see it.”
England’s Marcus Smith was carded in the same game for a similar incident.
Izaia Perese of Australia walks off after receiving a yellow card for deliberate knock on during game two of the International Test Match series between the Australia Wallabies and England at Suncorp Stadium (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I think the game is out of control,” said coach Eddie Jones. “They went for intercepts. It doesn’t make any sense. Whenever you’re reaching for a ball, your hand’s open. If you’re going like that knocking the ball down, and that’s the deliberate knock on and that should be penalised. But that’s not the actions we saw today.”
Queensland Rugby Challenger Series Law Innovations
Time compliance
- Five-second ruck (strict compliance from use it call)
- 30-second scrum call from when mark is set
- Penalty kicks (60-seconds)/conversions (90-seconds)
- Lineouts 30-seconds from when mark is set
- 30-seconds to restart after conversion
* Infringement against non-compliant team will result in a tap only option
Eg. No scrum option
Set Piece
- Scrum:
- 1st collapse – re-set if no clear sanction
- 2nd collapse – if no clear sanction, free kick to feeding team (tap only)
- Defending scrumhalf can’t go beyond midline of scrum (tap only)
- Lineout:
- Only contested throws to lineout can be adjudicated as not straight
- Only players within the lineout formation can join a maul formed at a lineout (penalty kick)
Tackle area
- Focus on tackler not rolling, must make effort to roll immediately towards sideline
Other
- Deliberate knock down
- To be refereed as either a ‘deliberate attempt to catch’, or a ‘deliberate attempt to knock down’ which will result in a penalty kick only
- Advantage Law – three phases and then advantage over (territorial and tactical advantage consideration remains at referees’ discretion)
Tell us your reaction to the laws trial on the comments below
Top-tier referees Nic Berry and Damon Murphy will oversee the games on October 9 and 15.
The changes come after a round-table of Super Rugby officials earlier this year flagged issues with ball-in-play time and what was viewed as over-officiating.
“We saw this series as an opportunity to pick the best out of (the proposed rule alterations) that wouldn’t require fundamental changes to the game and allow the referee some scope for interpretation,” Reds football boss and former Wallaby Sam Cordingley told AAP.
“World Rugby will be analysing the games to see how potentially they can be brought in. There’s a fabric of the game you want to sustain.
“We are challenged in Australia in terms of popularity (with other codes) but they’re still selling out stadiums (around the world). There’s minor tweaks we can make and it’s just common sense.”
Safety concerns have been flagged by current Wallabies about the addition of a scrum clock but Cordingley is confident a 30-second notice after the mark is set will not be risky.
“The game is about fatigue and teams that are fitter and can play an 80-minute contest should be rewarded,” he said.
“What’s the argument? Wait until everyone’s fresh, then set the scrum? That’s nonsense, we have to speed this game up.”
The Queensland President’s XV and Queensland Reds Development squads were announced on Wednesday along with details of the trial.
Newly crowned Alec Evans medallist and StoreLocal Hospital Cup premiership winner Connor Anderson will join the Reds Development squad, with fellow Wests standout Cooper Whiteside also part of the Reds outfit.
Sam Wallis and Conor Mitchell (UQ), Joey Fittock (Bond University), Paddy James (Brothers), Phransis Sula-Siaosi (Souths), Conor Chittenden (Norths), Taine Riori and Matt Smit (Easts) will also feature for the Queensland Development team in the two-game series.
Presidents XV head coach Simon Craig has selected a strong 24-man squad, with Wests’ Ethan Dobbins, Latu Talakai and Ben Navosailagi named as a three-pronged contingent from the premiership winners.
GPS stalwart Michael Richards has been named in the backrow, while the likes of Eli Pilz (Easts), Tyler Campbell (Bond University), Brad Twidale (UQ), Tom Lucas (Sunnybank) and Tayler Adams (Brothers) will also have the opportunity to test themselves at the next level.
Craig said: “We’re excited about the group we’ve put together.
“All have earned their opportunity with their performances in club Rugby, and we’re looking forward to seeing them come together as a group.
“It’s a great initiative by the QRU to provide these players the opportunity to take the next step in the Queensland Rugby pathway.”
24 of the 49 players selected have Queensland country roots, including Kye Oates (Darling Downs), Pat Morrey (Far North Queensland), Louis Werchon (Sunshine Coast) and Joey Fittock (Gold Coast).
The series will kick off at Sunnybank Rugby Union Club on Sunday 9 September, in what shapes as a festival of Representative Rugby for Queensland fans.
The Queensland U16s and U19s teams will face their New South Wales counterparts in the opening round of the newly announced National Championships, while the Queensland U15s team will go up against the Waratahs after last week’s Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup.
The following weekend will see Easts Rugby Union Club play host to the second and final game of the Challenger Series, with the squad for Queensland’s Japan Tour announced the week after.
Queensland will play sister-state club Panasonic Saitama Wild Knights in Saitama on Friday 4 November, as well as a non-capped warm-up match against the Kubota Spears the week prior. Both matches will be played at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.
Sunday 9 October – Sunnybank Rugby Club
11.30am – Queensland Reds U15s v New South Wales Waratahs U15s
1.00pm – Queensland Reds U16s v New South Wales Waratahs U16s
2.30pm – Queensland Reds U19s v New South Wales Waratahs U19s
4.00pm – Queensland Reds Development v Queensland President’s XV
Saturday 15 October – Easts Rugby Union Club
3.00pm – Queensland Reds Development Vs Queensland President’s XV
Queensland President’s XV Squad
Forwards
Alex Smit – Easts
Connor Pritchard – Bond University – Gold Coast
Ethan Dobbins – Wests
Jake Upfield – Bond University – Gold Coast
Jonte Connolly – Brothers – Caboolture
JP Tominiko – Easts – Gold Coast
Latu Talakai – Wests
Levi Samuela – Bond University – Gold Coast
Maile Ngauamo – GPS
Michael Richards – GPS
Pat Morrey – University of Queensland – Far North Queensland
Rhys Sheriff – Bond University – Gold Coast
Zac Shepherd – Easts
Backs
Ben Navosailagi – Wests
Brad Twidale – University of Queensland – Darling Downs
Dan Boardman – Bond University – Gold Coast
Eli Pilz – Easts – Sunshine Coast
Jordan Carriera – Easts
Kye Oates – University of Queensland – Darling Downs
Louis Werchon – Brothers – Sunshine Coast
Meli Dreu – Easts
Sam Hyne – Brothers
Tayler Adams – Brothers
Tom Lucas – Sunnybank
Tyler Campbell – Bond University – Gold Coast
Queensland Reds Development Squad
Forwards
Angus Blyth – Bond University – Gold Coast
Connor Anderson – Wests
Conor Mitchell – University of Queensland – Sunshine Coast
Dane Zander – University of Queensland
George Blake – Bond University – Gold Coast
Keynan Tauakipulu – Wests
Matt Faessler – Brothers – Darling Downs
Phransis Sula-Siaosi – Souths – Gold Coast
Sam Wallis – University of Queensland
Sef Fa’agase – University of Queensland – Beaudesert
Taine Riori – Easts
Wilson Blyth – Bond University – Gold Coast
Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – Gold Coast
Backs
Conor Chittenden – Norths
Cooper Whiteside – Wests
Joey Fittock – Bond University – Gold Coast
Josh Flook – Brothers
Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland
Lawson Creighton – Brothers
Mac Grealy – University of Queensland – Darling Downs
Matt Smit – Easts
Paddy James – Brothers
Spencer Jeans – Bond University – Gold Coast
Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I guess that’s a no from you windy.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Running back and forward is not that difficult. Real scrummaging requires real strength and stamina.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Apparently the last Wbs test the ball in play time was 27 minutes!
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
But Union front rowers in League would be busted after 10 minutes (and that is being generous). Different games, different requirements, silly comparisons.
piru
Roar Rookie
make him play without his boots
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Yep and if a shoe lase is undone two or three times start giving short arms.
Biltong
Guest
Thanks for the confirmation Tony.
kiwi boy
Guest
If this is seen to be the be all and end all of law changes then all that needs to be done now is to get referees who have full knowledge of the laws and are capable of making pragmatic decisions. Sadly, the current crop of international referees are a bunch of legend in my own mind poseurs.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Good call Kane, I definitely prefer your suggestion over the current mess around penalties. It used to be 3 team warnings and the YC! Now it is a lottery as each ref interpretations are different.
Kane
Roar Guru
Annoyingly a lot of teams take a scrum when awarded a free kick.
Kane
Roar Guru
That is also why I think they should count the amount of penalty offences rather than penalties conceded. Too often we see a team give away 3-4 penalty advantages in the red zone and if the opposition is good enough to score then zero penalties get logged against the other team. Often you look at the end at the penalty count and that doesn't always reflect which team was more disciplined.
Tony Harper
Editor
Hey Biltong, I don't think there will be a TMO in place for these games.
Steve
Guest
Great that International players hate some of these laws BUT the greatest number of players play at a much lower level and don’t necessarily dislike them. This supposedly is for the fans - well if it only apply it to games where fans are present? Do not change the game that thousands have enjoyed for years for the sake of the professional minority! We had rugby before professionalism existed - look what it has done for the game if football
Tooly
Roar Rookie
The game is booming and the standard of play has improved everywhere except here . . It’s not the rules that need changing it’s the administration. . Those who should be promoting the game are constantly bagging referees and the great game . The drivel from old players should come with a warning about head knocks . . RA is constantly trying to change rules to cover our deficiencies and now even to cover up our cheating . Lastly in boxing after 3 minutes of strenuous activity it only takes 1 minute to recover . So pauses to check decisions will give players time to recover. Get the bloody decisions right !
Chufortah
Guest
How about pausing the clock when scrum is formed until the ball comes out of a scrum, or the scrum starts moving?
No 2
Roar Rookie
I love the idea of penalising timewasting - sorry Iceman, guilty as charged. Let's get rid of the very slow walks to lineouts, the seminars held by international referees with international and Super Rugby level front-rows on the need for stability, etc in the front row. Most of all the WATER BREAKS for god's sake. What Northern Hemisphere clown thought that one up? No scrum penalties except for deliberately foul play should be the rule - use scrums only to restart play and wear players out. Great to see absurdly long "advantages" being brought under check too. I would have said 5 phases but 3 is good.
Bobby D
Roar Rookie
Can't agree, always a ridiculous rule IMO. So it's ok if a defender intercepts it cleanly but not ok if he drops or mishandles it? And if he knocks it backwards, that's ok, but if it travels forward then all hell breaks loose!! The ball travelling between two attackers should be "fair game" for any defender worth his salt. An attacker should not be rewarded for what often is a poorly-judged or delayed pass giving opportunity for possibly an intercept. And for a Y/C to apply the way it has been is just fundamentally wrong. Get rid of the rule and let play proceed.
No 2
Roar Rookie
Having the outside foot up would keep scrums square too. One of the most perverse aspects of modern rugby is that laws designed to protect the safety of players, especially front rowers, such as laws penalising collapsing, etc provide incentives to props to do exactly that. Tightheads all try to force their opponents to hinge. Or they drive in at an angle to try to force the opposing hooker to stand up or collapse. Who should be penalised? Why should they be penalised? If the rationale for the law was applied logically the player or team creating the hazard would be penalised. Requiring hookers to hook for the ball would go some way to stabilising scrums as well and reintroduce a lost art.
Kal Green
Guest
If no successful arm wrap in a tackle then it’s a shoulder charge. The ref is only causing grief if he allows ‘attempted’ arm wraps as the Aussie #11 seems to specialize in.
Adam
Roar Guru
Yeah they'd kick speculatively on the first or 2nd ruck to a winger and we'd come back and have the penalty. The kick for 3 points would be taken before the modern advantage call ends