World Rugby Proposes New Law Changes!
There are some radical changes proposed for Rugby Union to be trialed after the world cup. These changes may be for the betterment of the professional game but what about the Grassroots version?
The 50-22
In essence they are looking to create more space with this law by seeing if it could offer more optionsin attack. In short this law proposes that kicking the ball from behind your 50m line into the opposition 22 and bouncing out, results in you getting the ball back at the lineout.
A downside to this is that teams will no longer have running 10s, they will have huge thighed 10s with booming punt kicks:
This could potentially result in teams dropping wingers to cover the kicks, therefore opening up space for the attacking team. However at the grassroots level it is less likely to have an impact as with increases in counters from failed kicks it will probably not be utilised as much.
Lowering Tackle Height to Waist and Below
A sensible option you would think but don’t forget the majority of injuries and concussions are injuries to the tackler, so no matter where we coach the player to tackle an impact occurs. If we are to now target the hips and legs again we need to be 100% confident that we can coach the leg tackle safely.
An obvious outcome of low or leg tackles is the development of an offloading style of game, which does offer up an exciting option with fewer rucks and with the ball in play for longer. Fitness levels will need to increase – again this might influence grassroots rugby if they keep on trying to speed the game up!
Outlawing the Double Tackle
This makes huge sense to reduce the impacts, some dreadful injuries and deaths in French Rugby are driving this change. One problem this may cause is that it will possibly create situations where one player is tackled and just stands up in the tackle – no other player can touch them. This again will result in offloads becoming more of a key skill.
Getting Rid of the Jackal
A big call in taking away a key turnover skill but obviously with injuries occurring from technical clear outs of the jackler's exposed body position you must agree that this person needs to be managed better. One solution could be to force the jackler to step over the ball carrier creating a long, strong linear structure rather than an exposed wide one. The more likely result of this law is to force players to compete over the ball, committing more players to the ruck and creating space elsewhere.
Yellow Cards Review While in Sin-Bins
No impact to the grassroots game but we thought you'd like to know!
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