Former head of Irish officiating, Owen Doyle, expressed relief over the absence of new law trials following the World Rugby Shape of the Game summit, although he remains apprehensive about certain ongoing global trials. Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks coach, shared a positive outlook on the summit outcomes, emphasizing the focus on rugby's best interests despite underlying national agendas.
Doyle, unable to attend the London summit, mentioned he would have relished being a "fly on the wall" during the discussions. He celebrated the decision to avoid introducing new trials or altering existing laws but pointed out concerns regarding the skewed lineout throws trial. This rule allows throws that don't face opposition and cross specific field markers, which Doyle argues provide an unfair edge to the throwing team.
"The lineout global trial remains a concern. It goes forward for full ratification at World Rugby’s June meeting, despite its unintended consequences,"
Doyle explained that the current setup allows teams to form mauls prematurely, making them tough to defend against, suggesting a simple fix would be enforcing the existing law that prevents players from leaving the lineout before it concludes.
Amidst the discussions, Erasmus was satisfied with the summit's progress, stating, "We always brought the conversation back to what's best for rugby." This sentiment, however, was shadowed by the evident self-interest among nations, which could influence future debates especially concerning substitutions and red card rules.
"While the 20-minute red card is now part of the game, there is still discussion in relation to the on-field permanent (straight) red,"
Doyle noted that topics like the 'Bomb Squads' and bench splits did not receive the attention they perhaps deserved at this summit, predicting they will resurface in future discussions. Despite these ongoing issues, Doyle commended the efforts to maintain the integrity of the game's laws and looks forward to potential adjustments that align with rugby's core principles.
The summit, while achieving a general consensus, also highlighted the fragmented perspectives across the rugby unions, hinting at more complex negotiations and law evaluations in the near future.
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Former head of Irish officiating, Owen Doyle, expressed relief over the absence of new law trials following the World Rugby Shape of the Game summit, although he remains apprehensive about certain ongoing global trials. Meanwhile, Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks coach, shared a positive outlook on the summit outcomes, emphasizing the focus on rugby's best interests despite underlying national agendas.
Doyle, unable to attend the London summit, mentioned he would have relished being a "fly on the wall" during the discussions. He celebrated the decision to avoid introducing new trials or altering existing laws but pointed out concerns regarding the skewed lineout throws trial. This rule allows throws that don't face opposition and cross specific field markers, which Doyle argues provide an unfair edge to the throwing team.
"The lineout global trial remains a concern. It goes forward for full ratification at World Rugby’s June meeting, despite its unintended consequences,"
Doyle explained that the current setup allows teams to form mauls prematurely, making them tough to defend against, suggesting a simple fix would be enforcing the existing law that prevents players from leaving the lineout before it concludes.
Amidst the discussions, Erasmus was satisfied with the summit's progress, stating, "We always brought the conversation back to what's best for rugby." This sentiment, however, was shadowed by the evident self-interest among nations, which could influence future debates especially concerning substitutions and red card rules.
"While the 20-minute red card is now part of the game, there is still discussion in relation to the on-field permanent (straight) red,"
Doyle noted that topics like the 'Bomb Squads' and bench splits did not receive the attention they perhaps deserved at this summit, predicting they will resurface in future discussions. Despite these ongoing issues, Doyle commended the efforts to maintain the integrity of the game's laws and looks forward to potential adjustments that align with rugby's core principles.
The summit, while achieving a general consensus, also highlighted the fragmented perspectives across the rugby unions, hinting at more complex negotiations and law evaluations in the near future.