If you could change the laws of rugby, what would you change?

[Torn Hammy]

I would like to see the defensive line moved back 5 metres from the last foot of the ruck and maul.

 

[Elfster]

The jersey can only be put on by the player wearing it. If it requires assistance by another party then it is illegal. Or more simply, rugby players need to be able to dress themselves. That should help with the 'too tight' jersey...and we could also get back to wearing/ seeing those old cotton style jersies!

 

[rugbysmartarse]

some good options here. Sorry if I mised it but I would add :
Lineout can only be ruled not straight if the opposition com[petes for the ball

 

[Blue]

What was wrong with the loose-fitting cotton jumpers back in the olden days? Props had no trouble getting a good handful of jumper then. And clubs seemed to have no trouble with one set per team.

Not metrosexual enough. Players like Bieber would refuse to wear'em.

 

[matty_k]

Lineout can only be ruled not straight if the opposition com[petes for the ball

We asked Nathan Sharpe on a podcast once. He had a good response. I'm pretty sure I uploaded the clip of it somewhere on the site.

 

[Blue]

Blue, the iRB have declared the new sequence will be "Crouch/Touch/Set". With pauses, of course, but no pause/Pause/pause before the final engagement. Nothing about the hand staying after Touch. Still like to see a much faster setting of scrums. Tahs, for instance, are tortoisely slow, Wallabies aren't much better.

Yes I am aware of that but as thinking keeping the arm up could help the engagement to be more level and possible get ride of a lot of heads than hips calls? It also evens out the competition it. Some props are clever in how the touch and it gives them a slight edge when leading wit the shoulder especially looseheads.

 

[Blue]

The proposed "use it or lose it" ruck rule should keep it moving

IS that planned / new?

 

[fatprop]

IS that planned / new?

planned experiment

It's not often the IRB deserve credit for tinkering with the game, but here goes — the law change experiments to be brought in next season are actually founded on sound principles and common sense. How novel.
In a nutshell, the intention is to enhance the flow of matches, and the plans surely cannot offend even those who prefer stodgy, ‘arm-wrestle’ contests.
Top prize goes to the initiative designed to eradicate the grim spectacle of teams shielding the ball for an age at the base of rucks to prepare another pod of forwards for a close-quarters drive or, more often, to hoof it in the air and give chase in the quest for field position.
The experiment will require the ball to be used within five seconds or the defending team will be awarded a scrum. Hallelujah!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2146004/Chris-Foy-Law-changes-IRB-going-flow.html#ixzz1xXw9d6iM​

 

[Aussie D]

I like the laws the way they are but want stricter enforcement of the ruck, such as yellow cards issued for any ruck infringements aimed at slowing down play whenever a team has front foot ball or for multiple infringements by the same player or team.

Scrums - halfbacks have to feed into centre of tunnel, no spinning the ball with props having to retain their touch as soon as it is called by the ref.

As Lindo pointed out players can't take the ball into touch by catching it whilst standing out.

To speed the game up I would like to see all injured players taken over the sideline for treatment (frontrowers can be replaced for scrums only at this time). If a player can't be taken off under their own steam then they must be replaced as a duty of care.

 

[Braveheart81]

To speed the game up I would like to see all injured players taken over the sideline for treatment (frontrowers can be replaced for scrums only at this time). If a player can't be taken off under their own steam then they must be replaced as a duty of care.

I don't think it is a good step to take that an injured player's first thoughts are that they need to move to the sideline before they can receive treatment.

Players who are potentially seriously injured will still be trying to move themselves in the hope they can stay on the field.

It doesn't do anything for the players wellbeing to say that can only be treated once they move themselves off the field.

 

[Jets]

If a team takes a quick tap at a penalty or free kick the opposition can not advance. This guarantees that the team in possession will make ground and increase the chances of teams taking the tap option.

 

[Aussie D]

I don't think it is a good step to take that an injured player's first thoughts are that they need to move to the sideline before they can receive treatment.

Players who are potentially seriously injured will still be trying to move themselves in the hope they can stay on the field.

It doesn't do anything for the players wellbeing to say that can only be treated once they move themselves off the field.

Maybe change it to be that they can be assisted to the sideline for treatment. My point is if the medical staff are claiming they can't be moved to the sideline for some reason (neck) then they must be replaced immediately as a duty of care.

 

[Jets]

Players can be replaced if they are suspected to have a concussion. They are required to wear a red bib for 10mins while they are assessed by a qualified medical person (independent would be best). If they are deemed to be ok after the 10mins they can go back on. If not they are done for the match.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think this oversimplifies many injuries and also the fact that many professional rugby players play through a fair amount of pain and injury.

For example, if you get a tackle a bit wrong and your neck gets a bit compressed, you might get a stinger type injury where initially it feels like you've done something very serious. After a couple of minutes you're probably going to be fine. I don't think it creates a good situation where a player is either forced to move and risk further injury in the case where they are actually injured or are forced to be replaced when they aren't actually injured and could easily carry on.

I don't think injuries cause a massive problem at the moment. Play is allowed to carry on in most situations whilst a player is treated on the field. Scrums are often held up because a player is receiving treatment, but I also think this is generally fine rather than forcing a forward to pack the scrum injured or be replaced just because a scrum is happening.

I think the balance between keeping the game moving and showing a duty of care towards injured players is quite reasonable.

Anyway, I'm probably being a bit too argumentative as this thread was just about making suggestions of rules you'd change, so you're perfectly entitled to your opinion that this area needs to be changed. I'll shut up now

 

[barbarian]

If a team takes a quick tap at a penalty or free kick the opposition can not advance. This guarantees that the team in possession will make ground and increase the chances of teams taking the tap option.

The flaw in that is when a team is 5m out from the line, and send a big bloke charging at the oppo. Under your rule the best they could possibly do is hold him up over the line.
.

 

[Aussie D]

I can see you point of view and concede you do have a point (I had a stinger injury in my final season and no how scary they can be) I proposed this law change as too often you see teams attempting to slow the game down at set piece time through what can be described as 'convenient' injuries. I remember a game a few years ago (2007?) between the 'tahs and Cheetahs where the Cheetahs used this very tactic. At one point Os DuRandt went down as soon as a lineout was called, looked over and realised one of his teammates was taking his 'turn' and immediately got to his feet. Whilst funny it is frustrating for spectators having to wait for a couple of minutes at every stoppage due to questionable injuries.

 

[Nusadan]

Not sure if the lineout one would work. There might be a grey area in terms of what defines competition. One guy in the air? A guy who competes directly with the player who takes the ball?

As a ref, I make a point of telling the captains before the match that I would let borderline lineout throws go if the other team do not compete for that...and usually both captains agree with it in interests of playing attractive rugby etc...

 

[fatprop]

Yes I am aware of that but as thinking keeping the arm up could help the engagement to be more level and possible get ride of a lot of heads than hips calls? It also evens out the competition it. Some props are clever in how the touch and it gives them a slight edge when leading wit the shoulder especially looseheads.

the requirement of a long bind as well, much more stable

 

[Scarfman]

I'm not keen on the recent use of the crocodile roll in cleanouts.

And I'm just going to say it - I like hands in the ruck, ARC style. For me, it made the ruck a real armwrestle, and put the focus back on physicality rather than timing yourself against the ref's patience, which is what rucks have become. For me, it's the next best thing to bringing back rucking.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

I'm not keen on the recent use of the crocodile roll in cleanouts.

And I'm just going to say it - I like hands in the ruck, ARC style. For me, it made the ruck a real armwrestle, and put the focus back on physicality rather than timing yourself against the ref's patience, which is what rucks have become. For me, it's the next best thing to bringing back rucking.

I am with you scarfie - it also meant you had to get your big forwards into the ruck to push it over and grab the ball, so the backs generally had more space