In the world of rugby, the focus is often on the big, dramatic moments that capture the imagination of fans and pundits alike. But what about the small, subtle changes that could make a significant impact on the game? In this article, I'll explore seven small changes that World Rugby could implement to reduce the number of decisions referees make and, in turn, enhance the flow and fairness of Tests. These changes are not about making the game softer; they're about removing the interruptions and consequences that slow down the game and take away from the contest. From the scrum to the choke tackle, each of these adjustments aims to streamline the game and put the ball back in play more often. So, let's dive into the details and see how these small changes could make a big difference in the world of rugby.
The Scrum: A Three-Point Swing
One of the most contentious areas of the game is the scrum. The current law allows for a three-point swing to be awarded for offences that are almost impossible to see, including early engagement, hinges, and looseheads boring in at an angle no camera can prove. This puts an enormous decision in the hands of a referee crouched at knee height with the worst sightline in sport. To address this, I propose making these offences free kicks, which would eliminate the need for a scrum to settle a Test. This change would also restore the option removed under Law 20.3 in July 2024, allowing the side awarded a free kick to choose another scrum if they so desire. By doing so, we can ensure that strong scrummaging is rewarded and persistent offending still meets the escalation to a penalty and a card.
Advantage: Punishing Twice
The advantage rule is another area where the game can be streamlined. Currently, a side that infringes and is awarded advantage can score a try and then be penalised for the initial offence, resulting in a 10-minute sin-bin. This not only punishes the team twice but also ruins the next quarter for everyone watching. To fix this, I suggest keeping cards for foul play and the professional foul that stops a try, which is what the sanction was built for. By doing so, we can ensure that the referee's decision to award advantage is not undermined by the potential for a double punishment.
Deliberate Knock-Ons: Geography Matters
Deliberate knock-ons are another area where the law can be simplified. Currently, a hand thrown out to intercept a scoring pass on your own line is worth 10 minutes, while the same action on halfway with three defenders inside and the cover tracking across is barely noticed. To address this, I propose restricting the yellow card to offences inside the 22. Outside it, penalty and get on with it. This change would ensure that the law is applied consistently and fairly, and it would reduce the number of cliff edges in the game.
Bind on Entry: Making it Visible
The clearout is the most dangerous unpoliced act in the game. Players arrive at speed, off their feet in all but name, shoulder first and hands tucked, and the contact is legal-ish because the law asks for a bind nobody can see and no referee can adjudicate at that pace. To fix this, I suggest making the bind explicit and demonstrable on entry, in the way the latch was tidied up. This change would ensure that the referee has a clear test to apply and that the sanction matters as much as the test. By doing so, we can improve player safety and reduce the number of free kicks.
Long Lineout Throw: Creating Space
The long lineout throw is another area where the law can be simplified. Under Law 18, the lineout ends the moment the ball is thrown beyond the 15-metre line, and once it ends, the backs parked 10 metres away are free to come forward. This hands the defence ten metres of free line speed as its reward. To address this, I propose keeping the offside lines alive when the throw goes beyond 15 metres. This change would ensure that the defence has to keep bodies honest and that the corridor stays open for the phase that follows.
Mauling: Freezing the Numbers
The maul is another area where the law can be simplified. Currently, the five-metre maul is an eight-man wheelbarrow race in which the hooker claims a try he last had sight of four metres earlier, and the defence can only concede, collapse it illegally, or be shoved backwards while the clock runs down. To fix this, I suggest freezing the numbers at formation and making it a skill contest again, resolved quickly, with the ball emerging to backs who still have something to attack. This change would ensure that the maul becomes a contest of skill rather than a stop-start situation.
Choke Tackle: No Scrum, No Reset
The choke tackle was Ireland's gift to the game around the 2011 World Cup, and as defensive coaching, it was excellent. But as a law, it is an incentive to stop rugby being played. To fix this, I propose calling held and playing on, with the ball to be made available immediately. No scrum, no reset, no 60 seconds. By doing so, we can ensure that the choke tackle becomes what it was originally, a way of stealing possession from a careless carrier, rather than a legitimate method of running down a clock while the crowd checks its phones.
In conclusion, these seven small changes are not about making the game softer; they're about removing the interruptions and consequences that slow down the game and take away from the contest. By implementing these changes, we can ensure that rugby remains a fast-paced, exciting sport that rewards skill and strategy. So, let's get the ball rolling and make these changes a reality!
