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Thumbs-up for law variations
The International Rugby Board have approved a 12-month global trial of Experimental Law Variations from August 1.
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The International Rugby Board have approved a 12-month global trial of Experimental Law Variations from August 1.
Back to story
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Comments
Tariro Chawafambira says...
I think it is a brilliant idea, it only makes the game more exciting and it allows the game to flow more. As a rugby coach, I am 100% in favour of these ELV's its good and its gonna make the game much more exciting.
Posted 08:33 9th July 2008
Jonny Boy says...
I totally disagree with most of the comments made below. The new rules are most definately the way forward. There is nothing in the new rules that will stop scrummages, lineouts or even driving mauls. How mauls have we seen delinerately taken down without injury, loads. It can now be done lawfully and obviously techniques will get better, keep the ball to the back of the maul and it should be able to continue moving on. It's going to force some more modern thinking by coaches. It's pretty clear that most comments are made by english fearing for their national side.How narrow minded is that when your top premiership clubs are playing a more open and expansive game and would adapt to the new rules with ease. Bring it on.
Posted 20:08 15th May 2008
Adam Burbridge says...
I think this is a brilliant idea, i think the intensity levels of the super 14 this season has been superb. The all round fitness levels and the pace, especially in forward play, has been astounding. Second row locks outsprinting centres, awesome to see. Due to the change of the ball being passed back into 22 and kicked out on the full, this mean players have to perfect kicking techniques more so, when Jonny W came on the scene he could kick like no one, now every team has a excellent kicker. Rugby league is the same, i would love to see a 40-20 rule applied to union however it'll have to be a 22-22. Where the kickers team recieve possession of the ball via a line out with a kick from his 22 which goes out in oppositions 22 which cameron sheppard does superbly. Its the natural progression. Fair enough every one can kick into touch fairly well. Lets make it harder, by making it bounce just in field, and allowing it to make touch on its own steam. Looking for gaps in the backline. It gives more emphasis on a better defensive kick chase. The Lions tour and england tour is going to be really bad because the fitness levels and intensity levels are so much higher in the southern hemisphere. Players are quicker stronger fitter all the attributes to be a better player. Its time the northern hemisphere give up the english approach and stop whinging when something goes againstour way of thinking. We should embrace these new laws, and im really excited for next season!
Posted 13:17 7th May 2008
Scott Coyne says...
have the irb watched the super 14 its full of aim less kicks and players running round like headless chickens! I was a fan of the super 14 but now I get bored watching sum back get tackled everyone dive over and not get punished how is this speeding the game up? wasps, bath and gloucester are showing the super 14 boys how to play the game!
Posted 14:38 4th May 2008
Andrew Heap says...
I think people easily forget how Rugby Union was born. It was because a football player got frustrated with not being able to use his hands, and picked up the ball and ran with it. Yes Ran with it. Not to create a forward orientated game where points were scored, by having the opposing team infringe and 'kicking it over posts' to win. Yes the game was born by the desire to show how innovative a team can be, so that tries are scored. The best games to watch are those that involve exciting running of the ball, good distribution, skillful forward play at the breakdown. I think people forget what the ELV rules are trying to do - ensure that play is more continuous, keep the emphasis on attacking rugby, make the game easier to follow and simplify contentious refereeing at the breakdown. If this is done - yes - Players do have to be fitter, games will be decided by more skillful teams and not because they have an ace penalty kicker.
Posted 08:17 3rd May 2008
Tom K says...
Absoloutley terrible....Hang your head in shame IRB!!!
Posted 17:50 2nd May 2008
Stuart Mason says...
I wouldnt say there would be less scrums as from a free kick players can opt for the scrum and as the defensive line has to be further back than before it makes the scrum a more important attacking option. Living temporarily in NZ I watch a lot of Super 14 and teams who have a good scrum often choose this option in an attacking situation rather than a kick at goal as this option is no longer available. The rule that you can drop a rolling maul is ridiculous though.
Posted 15:11 2nd May 2008
Alex Thompson says...
I'm not sure this has anything to do with Southern Hemisphere teams not able to deal with the rolling maul etc, but I do agree that allowing pulling down is just plain stupid. As for the rest of the rules, well, in my opinion the IRB should rather deal with referees who already have too much discretion - any game that has rules should be refereed according to those rules - refs have become on field coaches - players are professionals who should know the rules - if we just blew to the existing laws then all the agro fans, players etc experience will be negated. Can you imagine golf, tennis etc if it was left to the "umpire" to coach the players on the court/course? Blow to the laws & the players will soon come around. Seems to me RU is dying a slow death...
Posted 14:24 2nd May 2008
Oliver Parkhouse says...
why are the Southern Hemispheres pushing for these laws. All it will do is ruin RU and change it into RL with 15 players (for the moment until they decide to remove 2 more players to make more running space) Pulling down a maul will cause injuroes and is dangerous...thats why the law was there. Some of the laws are interesting eg the 5m law to create..but you look at the super 14 and the games were dire, and players were knacjered....not good for the game. This is how you ruin the game...nice one IRB
Posted 12:38 2nd May 2008
Jez Quin says...
I am absolutely amazed that this decesion has been made; as with many other posts the southern sides will be laughing all the way to the next world cup!! I have been watching the Super 14 games, well attempting too becuase I have turned over after a few minutes because all the skill for which union is renowned for has been taken out of the game, and also the intensity as well. The rules changes that have not been introduced will come in at some stage and we will end up with a similar game to league, and I for one will be turing my back on a game that at the moment I real enjoy
Posted 12:19 2nd May 2008
Duncan Morley says...
The solution is simple. The northern hemisphere unions who want to continue playing our great game as it is should wave farewell to the IRB and the southern hemisphere interferers. Oh, and we should take our money as well, and see how long it is before they come crawling, cup in hand, asking for forgiveness. After all, we know these changes are all about money for them.
Posted 12:05 2nd May 2008
Jamie Wilson says...
i am irate at these rule changes. it is just making the game more suited to backs and removing the great skills of rolling mauls, scrums and kicking. if you think how many children were inspired to take up the game after seeing jonny wilkinson or neil jenkins kicking goals imagine how few would have done so if they were not allowed to kick goals for most offences. these rules will speed up the game to the point were powerful, skillful forwards are obselete and we end up with practicly rugby league. as a school and club rugby player i would agree that most people would be confused by these sudden rule changes and they are definately not a good idea.
Posted 11:41 2nd May 2008
Andrew Morgan says...
This is the thin end of the wedge to take power away from Northern Hemisphere rugby. Anybody's who has seen a rolling maul in action will know it's a remarkable display of skill to keep it going - but it'll be sent to the scrapheap now it can be pulled down legally. It's a genuine travesty.
Posted 10:58 2nd May 2008
Ashley Howkins says...
It is another case of the IRB submitting to the will of the Southern Hemishpere. The introduction of collapsing the maul has been introduced because the South cannot defend a rolling maul. Futhermore the introduction of this law is just dangerous! When a scrum collapses every player is concerned for the front rows and the possibility of neck injuries. I can only see there being a mound of twisted bodies, amongst which there can only be twisted limbs, broken bones and, more seriously, neck injuries. Also, I feel that the introduction of an offside line 5-meters behind the scrum negates blitz defences. The result of which is that a defending side cannot be up quick enough to pressure the attackers. Thank god that the introduction of an offside line where the tackle has taken place has been rejected. If this was introduced it would be the end of open play in rugby.
Posted 10:33 2nd May 2008
Michael Jennings says...
I think its pretty clear from the very high standards of rugby being played in the northern hemisphere, that we dont need any rule changes! the current rules were working fine! why ruin a good thing? This seems like change for changes sake.
Posted 09:38 2nd May 2008
Tim Grimley says...
Which idiot dreamed up the idea of free kicks to the defending side in tackle/ruck/maul, whilst changing infringements in this area to free kick offences? All defending sides will now try to do is kill everything (by legal means or otherwise - remember, no penalties now!) which will completely negate any extra freedom they are trying to give backs. The best thing for rugby is that these men in suits leave it well alone so players and coaches can evolve techniques and tactics without dumbing it down in a vain attempt to attract football fans.
Posted 09:22 2nd May 2008
Michael Desmond says...
I think these rule changes will ruin the games, props and other forwards will become a thing of the past as the game changes into a version more similar to rugby league. The Northen rugby boards need to stand up and defend current rules. The matches in the super 14 have decended into kicking games by the end of the match as everybody is tired out. Time to stop changing this great game.
Posted 09:01 2nd May 2008
Shaun Carty says...
I think that these laws will change rugby union for the worse, it will become to much like rugby league. I went to watch a rugby league match a few days ago and it lack the intensity and aggression of union which is what I enjoy as a player and fan. It is perfectly fine as it is!!!
Posted 07:02 2nd May 2008
Steve Solomon says...
This is absolutely ridiculous, fair enough it'll be a quicker game but these rules are turning rugby union into rugby league! I mean being able to pull down a driving maul and off side being 5 metres behind the back foot pretty much takes tactical forward play out of the game, and turning a lot of penalties into free kicks will just lead to a lot of tactical fouling.
Posted 22:08 1st May 2008
Tim Graham says...
I am in complete disarray at the news that the ELV's are to be put into trial from August 1st. I am not surprised the Southern Hemisphere representatives have been pushing so hard for them to be implemented, but I am amazed that 'Not one of the Council representatives was against the global implementation of an ELV programme of some description' as the IRB chairman stated. As Stuart Barnes writes, these are not 'minor changes' but are changing the fundamentals of the game. I can't help but question why they are needed and what they will achieve? Only recently we have seen high scoring, running rugby, ie Bath vs Leicester, with our current laws, which also allows a team to 'dig the heels in' and play a forwards based game if they wish; a much more enjoyable spectacle that allows all clubs and international teams to compete in their own style. I enjoy match days when you know two teams that play opposite styles are coming together. It is intriguing. Further to this, certain law changes will no doubt spell the end for international teams such as Argentina that will struggle to cope with an entirely 'backs orientated' game. I have played and followed rugby union closely for many years and have never taken to the league form of the game, which these laws are seeming to take us towards. I can't help but think that the beautiful game is changing for the worse and it is to accomodate the nations that implemented the ELV's in the first place. We all know the style of rugby they play and would not doubt it is fantastic to watch, but lets not make it the only way of playing and I can only hope the twelve month trial is a complete shambles so we can return to normality. Tim Graham
Posted 21:23 1st May 2008
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