Law trials and changes
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The following is a new law variation that applies to New Zealand club and school rugby only.
The NZR initiative "Game on" makes it possible for club rugby and school rugby games to be played even if a team has fewer than 15 players or doesn't have enough front-rowers.
Explanation in this YouTube video:
The details of "Game on" can be found on this NZR webpage: http://www.nzrugby.co.nz/game-on
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Summary:
A grassroots rugby initiative will see club and school games reduced to 10-a-side if there are lack of playing numbers. The new initiative to be launched soon by New Zealand Rugby, is called "game on" and aims to avoid matches being defaulted on Saturday. Under game on, from next winter school or club teams can turn up with a minimum of 10 players a side and if agreed by their opposition and the referee, an official match can still be played. Most unions will look to use this option in all grades, except for premiers and first 15. âWe're highly supportive of the trial, what it's doing is removing obstacles to enable games to happen and players to play,â Simon Devoy, head of participation at Auckland Rugby, said. Unions are noticing a clear drop off around the pre-teen years as well as late teens and under 20 grades. âWhat we do know is what we wanted 10, 15 years ago is not what our kids want now,â Devoy said. In some smaller unions, defaults and a lack of numbers in general are a real issue. âTo gather and not have a game it's an absolute travesty so the game on principle is just going to be fantastic for communities,â Wairarapa Bush CEO Tony Hargood said. The games next season can, if need be, be 40 to 80 minutes long, with rolling subs now across all grades with matches still counting for full official competition points. Scrums can be uncontested, with front row numbers also an issue. âThings move on, things change, rules change, if anything probably be good to simplify some of the rugby rules, wouldn't it?â Devoy said. Junior changes will also be trialled, including no knock ons and dropping playing positions at certain levels. Under 10 and under 11 grades will use 10 players a-side on smaller fields to improve involvement. -
Totally common sense, go out and throw the ball around, preferably with 15 otherwise make the most of what you've got. Some of the best games I've had is where we've had people swapping sides to fill in - they're always so much fun! Not serious rugby but good rugby.
Then again I was always crap so it was never serious for me.
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@Machpants said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
Then again I was always crap so it was never serious for me.
Yep - not first XV or prem I think, but others can just get a game in at least. I think it's a good initiative
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Media release NZR:
NEW ZEALAND RUGBY ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO DOMESTIC CLUB AND SCHOOL RUGBY
The changes will ensure more matches kick off, introduce new ways to play and improve the quality of experience for players. NZR Head of Participation and Development Steve Lancaster said the key motivator for change is to put participants at the centre of the sport. âRugby has been our national sport for over 125 years, our player numbers remain strong and as a country we continue to produce world-class rugby teams and athletes," Lancaster said. âBut our players, coaches and referees are increasingly telling us they want rugby to meet their needs, not the other way around. Weâre committed to improving the experience for everyone involved. âOur developments will help us future-proof rugby and remain relevant for the next 125 years.â In 2020 a new club rugby and secondary school initiative known as âGame On' will be introduced, as well as a focus on non-contact RipRugby and 10-a-side rugby, which will be implemented for Under 11s. Game On is designed to reduce the number of default matches due to lack of flexibility for player numbers. Provincial Unions will be implementing Game On into nominated grades. The new initiative will introduce rolling substitutions to matches and allows teams to modify team size, game length and scrum contests.Under 11 grade Small Blacks rugby will change from 15-a-side on a full-field, to 10-a-side on a half field. Lancaster said the shifts at the Small Blacks level reflect best-practice for the development of young rugby players. âSmall Blacks want to learn how to be better, play with their mates and have fun. Thatâs what sport is about at that age. âWe know small-sided games allow kids to have more touches of the ball giving them the best opportunity to improve.â Non-contact RipRugby, formerly QuickRip, will be offered to older age groups and introduced as a format at rugby clubs and schools. Lancaster said teenagers and adults were asking for more new ways to play rugby. âNon-contact and shortened versions like sevens are growing in popularity, especially with teenagers. Provincial Unions are seeing real success already with RipRugby which enables kids to enjoy the game without the usual commitment, nor risk of injury. Kids are loving it and staying in the sport.âProvincial Unions are set to introduce the new developments into school and club rugby from 1 January 2020. -
Big year for player welfare law trials kicks off
With the rugby community focused on reducing the risk of concussion, injury rates across global elite competitions have reduced by 15 per cent (30 per cent at Rugby World Cup 2019), demonstrating a change in culture, behaviour and strong compliance with World Rugby's player welfare standards. Key to injury prevention is the process of law review, and last year the World Rugby Executive Committee approved a package of innovative law trials specifically designed to reduce injuries at all levels. The major focus of the law amendment process was the imperative to reduce injury risk in the tackle, which is responsible for 50 per cent of all match injuries and 76 per cent of all concussions (72 per cent occurring to the tackler). This is in part driven by an increase of ball in play time by 50 per cent since Rugby World Cup 1987 to approximately 35 minutes at Rugby World Cup 2019. This environment has given rise to a 252 per cent increase in tackles over the same period, which is why World Rugby is focused on this important area. With unions, regions and competition owners embracing the opportunity to participate, the process of implementation and evaluation in nominated competitions is well underway, with opportunities for fans and players to experience the trials up close this year.What is the philosophy behind the trials? The fundamental principle of all trials is player welfare and the trials have been approved after extensive analysis by the specialist Law Review Group following union submissions and analysis at the ground-breaking player welfare and laws symposium in Marcoussis, France, in March 2019.What are the trials?
The package of six law amendments are:
- 50:22 kick: If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponentsâ 22 or from inside their own 22 into their opponentsâ half, they will throw in to the resultant lineout Rationale: To create space via a tactical choice for players to drop back out of the defensive line in order to prevent their opponents from kicking for touch.
- The High Tackle Technique Warning: Successfully trialled at the World Rugby U20 Championship for the last two years reducing the incidence of concussion by more than 50 per cent. Rationale: Head Injury prevention strategy.
- Reducing the tackle height to the waist. Rationale: Forcing players to tackle lower may reduce the risk of head injuries to both the tackler and tackled player. It may also encourage more offloads and expansive play.
- Ability to review a yellow card when a player is in the sin-bin for dangerous foul play: Rationale: To ensure players who are guilty of serious foul play do not escape with a yellow card when they deserved red.
- The introduction of an infringement (penalty and free-kick) limit for teams. Once a team has reached the limit, a mandatory yellow card is given to the last offending player as a team sanction. Rationale: To encourage teams to offend less.
- The awarding of a goal-line drop-out to the defending team when an attacking player, who brings the ball into in-goal, is held up. Rationale: To reward good defence and promote a faster rate of play.
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Where to see the trials in action in 2020
- Australia, New Zealand and South Africa | Super Rugby - High Tackle Technique Warning
- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and USA | Americas Rugby Championship - 50:22 kick
- France
- Top 14 and Pro D2 - High Tackle Technique Warning
- Community Rugby: C 2nd and 3rd federal division â Federal B â Excellence B â Womenâs Federal 1, - C = Regional series â Honour Reserves â Rugby entreprises â Women'sâ Federal 2 â U19 League 1 and 2 â U16 League 1 and 2 â Womenâs Federal U18 , D = Game with 10 players - Waist High Tackle
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- South Africa | Varsity Cup - 50:22 kick
- Fiji | Kaji competition, Deans Schools, Skipper and Vanua and Womenâs competitions - Waist High Tackle
- Georgia | U16 and U18s - 50:22 kick
- Italy | Top 12, Serie A, B, C, Women, U18 and U16 - 50:22 kick
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The trials follow a highly-encouraging Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan with initial data suggesting a reduction in incidence and severity of injury rates and a significant 30 per cent plus reduction in concussion rates versus other elite competitions. The outcomes can be attributed to the implementation of the most comprehensive package of tournament player welfare standards, including the High Tackle Sanction Framework, which encouraged players to change behaviour from high-risk tackles to lower risk tackles.World Rugby is currently seeking 2019 law amendment proposals from its member unions, regional associations and global elite competitions. The Law Review Group will reconvene in early March where the current trials will be reviewed and any new union proposals considered with recommendations made to the Rugby Committee. The March meetings will also see the specialist Breakdown Group convene to consider injury-prevention at the breakdown, which is responsible for approximately eight per cent of match injuries. -
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@Stargazer said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
For now, I have only one reaction: when are they finally going to leave the game alone?! I'm sick of these constant law trials and changes.
Never. Never have, never will!
Also what is "The High Tackle Technique Warning" when it's at home?
And how many infringements are in the Infringement Limit? Not that it is relevant ot the rugby I watch but interested.
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@Machpants said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
@Stargazer said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
For now, I have only one reaction: when are they finally going to leave the game alone?! I'm sick of these constant law trials and changes.
Never. Never have, never will!
Also what is "The High Tackle Technique Warning" when it's at home?
And how many infringements are in the Infringement Limit? Not that it is relevant ot the rugby I watch but interested.
That's what I want to know as well as the warning thing is coming to Super Rugby.
Only one I really like is the Defence getting goal line dropout for holding up a player over the line
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@Hooroo I dont entirely agree with that, esp when anything over the line people already simply crowd the area to make make the TMOs job harder...
there are some occasions when it is pretty clear that a try must have been scored (sheer physics say one should have) but there is no camera angle or too many players around, that it is deemed held up, then the attacking team lose the ball to a drop out?
Only good thing about it, would be the occasions where a held up can lead to scrum after scrum to draw a YC and pen-try
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This is from the judicial decisions page from the most recent WR U20 Championship. It gives an idea of how the "High Tackle Technique Warning" works:
HIGH RISK CONTACT TECHNIQUE WARNINGS The following players received High Risk Contact Technique Warnings arising from match-day one under the trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2019 with respect to upright tackles which result in contact with an opponentâs head: ⢠Santiago Chocobares (Argentina No.12) ⢠Lachlan Lonergan (Australia No.2) ⢠Julien Delbois (France No.12) ⢠Jonathan Wren (Ireland No.11) ⢠Ronan Watters (Ireland No.20) ⢠James Mollentze (South Africa No.10) ⢠The following players received High Risk Contact Technique Warnings arising from match-day two under the trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2019 with respect to upright tackles which result in contact with an opponentâs head: ⢠Murray Scott (Scotland No.9) The following players received High Risk Contact Technique Warnings arising from match-day three under the trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2019 with respect to upright tackles which result in contact with an opponentâs head: ⢠Angus Bell (Australia No.1) ⢠Joey Walton (Australia No.13) ⢠Leicester Fainga'anuku (New Zealand No.11) ⢠James Mollentze (South Africa No.10) ⢠Cameron Anderson (Scotland No.13) The following players received High-Risk Contact Technique Warnings arising from match-day four under the trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2019 with respect to upright tackles which result in contact with an opponentâs head: ⢠Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Wales No.12) ⢠David Coetzer (South Africa No.27) ⢠James Mollentze (South Africa No.10) ⢠Michael McDonald (Australia No.9) ⢠Noah Lolesio (Australia No.12) ⢠Mikheil Alania (Georgia No.9) ⢠Etonia Waka (Fiji No.4) ⢠Robbie McCallum (Scotland No.12) Thomas-Wheeler and Mollentze are now automatically suspended for one match having received two (or more) Technique Warnings in the tournament. Alania will be automatically suspended for one match if his coach does not review the playerâs tackling technique to the satisfaction of the Citing Commissioner in order to have his first warning removed. For all other players, this was their first Technique Warning in the tournament and their coaches also have the opportunity to review the playerâs tackling technique to the satisfaction of the Citing Commissioner in order to have the first warning removed from the playersâ records. Challenge hearings South Africa fly-half James Mollentze challenged his automatic one-match suspension under the High Risk Contact Technique Warning trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Following a detailed analysis of the video footage and submissions from the playerâs coach Chean Roux, his challenge was dismissed by the Judicial Officer Charles Cuthbert (UAE). Mollentze remains suspended for the final round of the tournament. Wales centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler challenged his automatic one match suspension under the High Risk Contact Technique Warning trial in operation at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Following a detailed analysis of the video footage and submissions from the playerâs coach Gareth Williams, his challenge was upheld by the Judicial Officer Charles Cuthbert (UAE). Thomas-Wheeler is free to play in the final round of the tournament. -
@taniwharugby said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
@Hooroo I dont entirely agree with that, esp when anything over the line people already simply crowd the area to make make the TMOs job harder...
there are some occasions when it is pretty clear that a try must have been scored (sheer physics say one should have) but there is no camera angle or too many players around, that it is deemed held up, then the attacking team lose the ball to a drop out?
Only good thing about it, would be the occasions where a held up can lead to scrum after scrum to draw a YC and pen-try
They already crowd the line so no difference there. (They always dive in to cover the ball so camera has trouble viewing.
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From Herald
"What is a high tackle technique warning?A high-risk contact tackle technique warning can be issued to any player where the tackle is upright (i.e. not bent at the waist when tackling), and there is clear and obvious head contact for either player.
The sanctions will be policed by both the match officials and the citing commissioner. When two high-risk tackle technique warnings have been issued, a player will automatically receive a one-match suspension."
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@Machpants I don't think they got that right. They seem to join several of the different law trials.
Reducing the tackle height to the waist is a separate law trial.
The warning is not a new rule about tackling; it's a sanction in response to a high tackle.
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@Stargazer yeah I dunno, TBH. Annoying how that make these big announcements but are then really fluffy about it. I reckon, from grumbles, that the coaches etc don;t get much more! And certainly not enough time to change things
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the law of unintended consequences will get these, it always does.
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They're not implementing a waist line tackle height for Super Rugby are they?
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@antipodean said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:
They're not implementing a waist line tackle height for Super Rugby are they?
No.
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Clarification SANZAAR
2020 Law Trial On January 13 World Rugby issued a media statement that set out the various law trials that would be trialled in various domestic competitions around the world in 2020. The trials were approved for the four-year law amendment review cycle that began after the 2019 World Cup following an analysis by the Law Review Group last March and several unions expressed interest in operating one or more of the trials. SANZAAR is supportive of this process and awaits the outcomes of these trials to ascertain their effect on player welfare and the game. The only trial that will be introduced to Super Rugby is the High Tackle Technique Warning. SANZAAR will be appointing a tackle technique review officer to oversee the trial. Preventing dangerous high tackles remains a high priority for SANZAAR and World Rugby as we look to reduce the number of concussions. Research has shown that the majority of concussions are caused by tacklers who tackle with an upright body. SANZAAR is focusing on implementing a process that identifies high-risk upright tackles. The shadow trial will see SANZAAR looking at all tackles each round and identifying tackles in which the tackler is in an upright body position, and in the event it is deemed the tackler has shown poor technique in executing an upright tackle, a warning may be sent to the player and player's coach. This process will be an educational process that will aim to educate players and coaches of high-risk behaviours by identifying poor tackle techniques and seeking to inform players of better choices they can make in the tackle zone. This process will not impose any sanctions on Players. This is not designed to penalise the player in any way but to hopefully shine a light on poor technique that has been shown to increase the risk of significant injury and attempt to affect behavioural change via education and identification. Further details on this process will be released in due course.https://www.superrugby.co.nz/news/four-new-zealand-rugby-referees-confirmed-for-super-rugby-2/
