Former IRFU referee boss Owen Doyle isn't mincing words when it comes to the latest rugby scrum laws, slamming them as a slow execution of a vital rugby element. With both World Rugby and Super Rugby in his sights, Doyle accuses them of diluting one of rugby union's defining features in a misguided bid to quicken the game.
Doyle expressed his frustrations in a column, noting, "The scrum, long a cornerstone of our sport, now seems to be on death row, thanks to World Rugby's relentless push for amendments. It's not just about speeding up the game; it's about stripping rugby of its very essence." He argues that the scrum is more than just a phase of play—it's a strategic battleground that creates opportunities and showcases the sport's unique blend of physicality and skill.
Recent rule changes include the elimination of a scrum option following a free-kick, and for the 2026 season, an accidental offside or delays at the ruck will also result in a free-kick rather than a scrum. "These alterations are supposedly fan-focused, but one must wonder which fans they're actually serving," Doyle questions.
"Handing uncontested possession for an accidental offside is total nonsense."
Doyle also fears these changes make rugby union too similar to rugby league, particularly criticizing the free-kick's resemblance to rugby league's play-the-ball. "It’ll produce plenty of helter-skelter stuff, without any structure," he adds, concerned about the strategic depth being compromised.
Brett Robinson, the chair of World Rugby, has asserted that the union is not morphing into league, yet Doyle counters, "Most of the recent law trial changes are straight out of league’s playbook."
Doyle's closing argument is a call to arms for rugby unions worldwide to resist these changes. He firmly believes that losing the scrum would strip rugby union of its identity and reduce it to a shadow of its former self.
"We lose that uniqueness at our peril – sure there would be some sort of game, but it would not be rugby union."
As the debate continues, it's clear that the future of the rugby scrum hangs in the balance, with passionate voices like Doyle's highlighting the potential loss to the sport's heritage and tactical richness.
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Former IRFU referee boss Owen Doyle isn't mincing words when it comes to the latest rugby scrum laws, slamming them as a slow execution of a vital rugby element. With both World Rugby and Super Rugby in his sights, Doyle accuses them of diluting one of rugby union's defining features in a misguided bid to quicken the game.
Doyle expressed his frustrations in a column, noting, "The scrum, long a cornerstone of our sport, now seems to be on death row, thanks to World Rugby's relentless push for amendments. It's not just about speeding up the game; it's about stripping rugby of its very essence." He argues that the scrum is more than just a phase of play—it's a strategic battleground that creates opportunities and showcases the sport's unique blend of physicality and skill.
Recent rule changes include the elimination of a scrum option following a free-kick, and for the 2026 season, an accidental offside or delays at the ruck will also result in a free-kick rather than a scrum. "These alterations are supposedly fan-focused, but one must wonder which fans they're actually serving," Doyle questions.
"Handing uncontested possession for an accidental offside is total nonsense."
Doyle also fears these changes make rugby union too similar to rugby league, particularly criticizing the free-kick's resemblance to rugby league's play-the-ball. "It’ll produce plenty of helter-skelter stuff, without any structure," he adds, concerned about the strategic depth being compromised.
Brett Robinson, the chair of World Rugby, has asserted that the union is not morphing into league, yet Doyle counters, "Most of the recent law trial changes are straight out of league’s playbook."
Doyle's closing argument is a call to arms for rugby unions worldwide to resist these changes. He firmly believes that losing the scrum would strip rugby union of its identity and reduce it to a shadow of its former self.
"We lose that uniqueness at our peril – sure there would be some sort of game, but it would not be rugby union."
As the debate continues, it's clear that the future of the rugby scrum hangs in the balance, with passionate voices like Doyle's highlighting the potential loss to the sport's heritage and tactical richness.