An IRB Laws Project Group, formed by the organisation's Rugby Committee to undertake a critical review of the tackle, ruck and maul Laws, has concluded a week of evaluation into new versions of Laws in these areas.
Utilising the laws laboratory facilities at Stellenbosch University the Group formulated a series of experimental law variations (ELVs) that will undergo further trials over the coming months.
Led by Council member Bill Nolan the Group included former World Cup winning Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen, former Springbok coach Ian MacIntosh, former Scottish coach Richie Dixon, former French player, coach and IRB Regional Development Manager Pierre Villepreux, IRB Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien and IRB Development Manager Bruce Cook.
"The fundamental reason for the study is that the IRB has proactively recognised that these areas of Law are proving to be the most difficult to interpret in a practical manner. The Game is continuing to evolve following a decade of professionalism and the IRB is being honest and transparent in undertaking an evaluation of the Laws and the current position of the game on the world stage," said Bill Nolan.
"We are looking at the game in a new light with the idea of making it simpler and easier to play and referee, and to ensure Rugby is understood and enjoyed by the increasing number of spectators that are being attracted to the game. In the past, we have tinkered with existing Laws but in Stellenbosch we started out with a blank canvas, looked at new Law variations and studied the cause and effect of the changes."
"As a world governing body we are committed to reducing the number and complexity of the Laws and to reduce the "cannot's" in law and promote the "can's" to create a positive philosophy. However, everything that is being done must, and will, relate to the Playing Charter that has been endorsed by our Member Unions, that recognises Rugby as being a game for all shapes and sizes," added Nolan.
Some of the Laws trialled during the week and which will continue to be evaluated during competitions at Stellenbosch are:
·Allowing the ball to be played with the hand at the breakdown
·Only foul play (Law 10) and offside resulting in penalty kicks - all other offences resulting in free kicks.
· Free kicks are taken by a tap kick or a scrum option only.
· Teams no longer have to match up numbers in the lineout.
· Bringing the maul to ground by the defending team
Rod Macqueen stated, "This project, the resulting recommendation of ELVs, and their continued evaluation, is an ongoing programme, still very much in its embryonic stage. One that will be monitored continuously by the Laws Project Group (LPG) via a clearly defined process of evaluation through demonstrable practical experiments and not hypothetical outcomes."
"Other Law changes already being trialled around the world include the use of 12 replacements, Under-19 scrum laws at senior level and in-goal touch judges. These will also eventually be included in the process."
"The ultimate aim of these experimental laws is to allow for more creativity by the players and this week there were encouraging signs such as clarity of decision-making, less confusion among players at the breakdown and reduced law subjectivity," added Macqueen.