Lets also start limiting the number of scrums!
I say max 2 per half!
And a player can only make 4 tackles per match.
Lets also start limiting the number of scrums!
I say max 2 per half!
And a player can only make 4 tackles per match.
2,193 posts
In the wake of continued debate around rugby's relentless pick and drive tactics, former Test referee Owen Doyle has pitched a bold idea to World Rugby aimed at curbing what he sees as an overuse of the strategy. Doyle's proposal would limit teams to three consecutive pick and drives within a sequence of play, a rule he believes would encourage more creativity and reduce the risk of head injuries associated with the prevalent method where players often lead with their heads.
Despite the introduction of goal-line drop-outs intended to decrease pick and drives near the try line, Doyle argues that the change has fallen short of expectations. He wrote, "We have been living for some time now with the goal-line drop-out. Introduced to reduce the number of pick and drives close to the goal-line, it has done nothing of the sort.” His concern is particularly acute given the potential for long-term brain damage from repetitive sub-concussive impacts, a risk exacerbated by the way players like Ireland’s hooker Dan Sheehan immerse themselves in these confrontations.
"Ireland’s Dan Sheehan is a marvellous player, a generational hooker in the making. In pick and drive scenarios, in line with common practice, Sheehan leads with his head, which means his brain is taking repeated hits."
The discourse also touched on recent disciplinary issues, specifically the overturned red card for Connacht's Josh Murphy and the consequential nine-week suspension for Bulls' Jan-Hendrik Wessels. The incident has sparked controversy, with Doyle noting, “The hearing has rescinded the red for Connacht’s Josh Murphy, and handed Bulls’ Jan-Hendrik Wessels a hefty nine-week ban for interfering with Murphy’s nether regions. The cameras did not supply proof, so the judiciary acted on the balance of probabilities.”
Doyle’s critique extends beyond player safety, lamenting the tactical stagnation brought about by excessive pick and drives. “The pick and drive tactic has become a near obsession in the game. It doesn’t really matter if a player gets held up over the goal-line; the ball will regularly be returned to his team via the subsequent drop-out,” he explained.
This veteran referee's call for a rule change is a clear signal to the rugby world: it's time to rethink strategies not just for the sake of the game’s evolution, but crucially for player welfare. With upcoming international fixtures, including Ireland facing New Zealand and England hosting Australia, it will be interesting to see how these discussions influence the strategies employed on the field.