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'Playing the game' IRB hints at law changes in January
Posted: Tuesday December 07, 1999 04:19 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- The International Rugby Board hinted Tuesday that law changes supported by coaches at a conference last week might be introduced in time for the Six Nations and Super 12 tournaments early next year. In a statement following the five-day "Playing the Game" conference in Sydney, the game's ruling body said certain proposals, covering modifications to the tackle law and the scrum and the introduction of a sin bin, could be fast-tracked into play by January if national rugby unions made a formal request. Both the Southern Hemisphere's Super 12 provincial tournament and the Northern Hemisphere's Six Nations tournament start in February. IRB chairman Vernon Pugh indicated a decision on the introduction of video referees to rule on contentious tries would be left to the IRB's annual meeting in March. "The unanimity of opinion on certain issues is likely to see the unions of the Six Nations and the SANZAR unions supporting certain law changes relating to the sin bin, modification of the tackle law and the scrum," Pugh said in a statement. "While any changes in law generally cannot be effected until consultation with all unions have been completed and the proposals discussed by the IRB Council, the IRB would remind unions of the possible use of its fast track process. "This will permit, in appropriate cases, the introduction of agreed changes for certain categories of matches on an experimental basis. "Any applications by the unions of the Six Nations, SANZAR or other unions will be considered and decided by the IRB's executive committee not later than early January 2000." The Sydney conference was attended by more than 60 delegates representing players, coaches, referees and administrators from each of the leading rugby playing nations. It agreed on a proposed amendment to the tackle rule so that, once a tackle has been made, players can only contest the ball by coming in from their own side. The conference delegates also agreed to back a Southern Hemisphere plan to allow players to support their lineout jumpers by their thighs, and for number eights to play the ball even if the scrum has collapsed to avoid having to reset it. The most radical proposals were for sin bins and the introduction of video referees to rule on contentious tries. Video has already been used in rugby league and cricket and is a quick and effective way of checking the validity of tries. Sin bins have been proposed largely as a way of cutting down on the increasing use of professional fouls to stop tries. With a converted try worth seven points and penalties three, teams have been consistently guilty of committing deliberate infringements to prevent its opponents from touching down.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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