The radical law changes World Rugby boss Bill Beaumont must make if he wants to revive rugby
Re-elected World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont and his newly elected board have their work cut out for them.
The game of rugby globally is in flux, partly because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the current global health crisis should not mask the issues that have been affecting the health of the game itself.
Rugby is not dying, but is in dire need of a health check and a change of lifestyle.
The sport can no longer sustain itself as it once did, living off healthy broadcast revenues with administrations enjoying the largesse such revenues once brought. All at a time when the frugally maintained grassroots of the game were a nostalgic afterthought.
One only has to look at how the game in Australia has been administered since the advent of professionalism at the end of 1995 as a case study into how a once powerhouse in the international game now currently hinges on the precipice of financial ruin and languishes around sixth or seventh on the world rankings.
There is no doubt there are many prescriptions and therapies ready to be offered to remedy the rugby health crisis, but for rugby to treat its infections, it simply must rediscover what it once was.
It was a running game that was championed by those who had an all-round athletic ability, a tough constitution, work ethic, team focus and a creative, adventurous spirit whose love of the game was evident by the manner in which they played it.
The game itself was essentially fun, safe to play and relatively easy to understand. Ask a non-rugby person if they think the game is fun, safe and easy to understand today?
If you were any good at rugby, you would be picked in the better sides. If you were mediocre there’s a game for you, and if you were just north of hopeless, guess what? Rugby welcomed you.
There was no need for diversity policies and it didn’t matter what school you went to. It never truly has and it is a lazy argument to suggest otherwise.
If you asked the late, great Queensland and Wallabies coach Bob Templeton if his side had a diversity policy, he would probably answer, “Yes, we will both kick and run the ball.”
However, for one reason or another, the playing of the game has become lobotomised.
Where once the game encouraged and allowed for creative and open play, the playing of the game has become too risk-averse and transformed into a game of power as opposed to one of athleticism and skill. A game based on moving from one structure to the next constricting the team in possession of space along the way as the path to victory.
Why on earth would World Rugby, in all its previous incarnations and branding, ever allow a game that championed defence and the limiting of space if it knew its true self?
Among the shock revelations was the drop in popularity of rugby union as only the ninth most popular sport in the Australian market.https://t.co/KNvrzUl6h3
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It appears it does not as the game has transitioned itself into a complex exhibition that wants the player and spectator alike to be entertained by collision over continuity.
If the fan wants that, they can watch rugby league or American football.
In its effort to evolve rugby, the sport has grown closer to its offspring, is failing to differentiate itself from them and is lost in the fog of professional sport.
Subsequently, the size, shape and abilities of the rugby player have changed as the game demanded greater power and less mental prowess.
We now regularly see outside backs who weigh in over 100 kilograms in search of space or meters running back into tight forwards who can weight over 130 kilograms.
The collision impact can be enormous, if not dangerous. Then we see those gigantic forwards running in their respective ‘pods’ head down ploughing themselves into the next possible concussion looking for the all-important meters and quick ball to again search for space.
So, it is ultimately about space. World Rugby must adjust the current laws to allow for space to exist both from the restart and general play.
The need for more athletic players who are willing to exploit the space and thrive in the unstructured moment will come to the fore as there would likely be less requirement for bulldozing pods as a form of space creation masquerading itself as entertaining play.
“I have a clear mandate to work with Bernard [Laporte] to implement progressive, meaningful and sustainable change,” Beaumont said.
“As an organisation, we must lead, be transparent, accountable and continue to serve for all. We must be united in our drive to make this great sport even better, simpler, safer and more accessible. We must listen to players, fans, competitions, our unions and regions, and take decisions that are in the best interests of all with our strong values to the fore.”
Well, Bill, here is a couple of thoughts to get you started.
Under the current laws, the scrum-half not in possession at a scrum situation can impose themselves into an aspect of play he or she has not earned the right to participate in.
It’s legislated fraud in my opinion. As you will see from the diagram below, taken from World Rugby’s website, the offender in waiting is in red.
The scrum should be a contest of eight versus eight, not nine versus nine.
As it stands, a scrum-half not in possession can move right to the last feet of an opposition flanker, and often limits the opportunity for a No. 8 to run from the base of the scrum, or be a distributor, as the scrum-half legally loiters around an area of the scrum that their side has lost.
Why is this allowed?
For some illogical reason, a player who for all intense purposes has had no part in the scrum contest gets an opportunity to try and disturb the possession won in a contest he or she was not a part of.
To be blunt, it’s rubbish and frustrating to see a law that allows cheap unattractive play to potentially stifle the opposition’s rightfully won possession and all the glorious possibilities that affords.
The scrum-half not in possession should, post the scrum feed, have to move behind his own No. 8, or start from there, thus freeing up space for attacking possibilities.
Secondl,y lifting in the lineout appears to have contributed to the reduction of space in the midfield and beyond.
Lineouts have become such a specialised aspect of the game that teams frequently look to use shortened variations of the set piece, allowing forwards to occupy space in the midfield as ball runners.
This reduces the space for attacking players to run at as they are marked up in defence by their opposition forwards.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_7ws-CA10i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In the absence of a legal lift, it would then invite the more athletic, skilful jumper to once again find their place in the game.
Presently, a successful line out is more contingent on the successful timing of the throw and lift, as opposed to the jump itself. Again, there is an imbalance that favours the power of the lift, over the guile and athletic ability of the single jumper.
If the laws were reverted to single jumpers duelling for the ball, a greater contest would ensue, and the logic would be other forwards would likely position themselves in the lineout to be readily present to assist in the security of possession, or to exploit any error that may have occurred.
That would prevent an overpopulation the midfield and create more space.
Furthermore, if lineout lifting were removed, it would likely be safer for the jumper as the heights they currently reach being lifted are dangerous heights to fall from if the grip or balance of either lifter is lost.
Falling from the height of an unassisted jump would be profoundly less dangerous.
If lineout lifting is to remain legal, perhaps shortened variations should be outlawed, bringing all forwards into the lineout to ensure there is that all-important space for an attacking side to exploit.
Such adjustments would foster a more open game thus attracting new fans and reigniting old ones. The adjustments would help to make rugby a fun, safe, easier game to understand, for the player and spectator from the grass-roots to the international stage.
Since the announcement of Beaumont’s re-election, 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward said, “I would argue that the situation for rugby worldwide is about to become so fraught and fast-moving that what is needed most is innovation and action.”
Bill, there is no time like the present.
Comments on RugbyPass
I think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
8 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
8 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to comments