World Rugby considering dropping scrums in drastic rule change
World Rugby is reportedly considering dramatic law changes as a way to get the sport running again after the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Times, World Rugby's Law Review Group has highlighted scrums and mauls as high-risk areas of the game that could be adapted or removed entirely by unions around the world to resume competition.
The close contact involved in scrums and mauls is unique among professional sport and rugby union has faced more challenges than most other sports in justifying its resumption in the face of a highly contagious virus.
"The face-to-face contact in the scrums and rucks is unique and that is what is being looked at closely," a source told the paper.
Now, World Rugby is looking at ways players can minimise time spent in those close-contact situations and scrums could be the first major phase of the game on the block.
According to the report, a free kick could replace scrums, mauls would be removed from the game and line-outs could go uncontested.
"The idea is to provide options for the professional and the community game below that, particularly if they do not have access to testing," the source added.
The idea of removing or limiting close-contact situations from the sport is expected to come under severe criticism. The opinion of one top coach is already known.
England coach Eddie Jones commented in 2017, after Italy refused to commit players to the ruck against his side, that it just wouldn't be rugby.
"When you lose a primary contest from the game, it ceases to be rugby," he said. "So, if you paid for your ticket, ask for your money back."
New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that a domestic form of Super Rugby will start on Saturday June 13, but many international unions are struggling to get going again, particularly in Europe where plans to resume playing lag well behind other sports.
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Brumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
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