Common rugby laws effected

World Rugby directed that the law changes be applicable in the Sothern Hemisphere from January, 2016. The Northern Hemisphere started to play under the same laws from July 1. That means that the Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere teams will play under the same laws from July 1, 2016. Sri Lanka too will fall in line and will effect changes beginning with the club league from this week.

This means that the law amendments will come into effect and this is in addition to the laws of the game changes and amendments incorporated in the 2016 laws of the game. It will be interesting to read that a forward pass is not about a ball going forward but to be judged by the hands. As it is the forward passes draw a howl from the pavilion and in future it may end in more than a scream.

The changes were approved and announced in September 2015 and were implemented in the Southern Hemisphere in January.

One of the amendment aims is to banish all forms of simulation and follows on from officials at last year's Rugby World Cup being instructed to sin-bin players who dived or feigned injury. The new rules state that "play acting" or "simulation" is specifically outlawed in the game and that any player who dives or feigns injury in an effort to influence the match officials will be liable for sanction.

Probably at the start of the season when a referee does penalize the actors there is going to be many sounds of OH! There will be shouts of ref was that not a late tackle. The video clip when discussed recently saw coaches asking were the players not guilty of a late tackle. Yes it was late and may have attracted a penalty but the actor wanted to make the referee believe that he has had a more serious foul play inflicted on him. We have seen players show that they may have multiple fractures but getting up fast and into the game no sooner the referee punishes the other player.

In Rugby circles much is talked of how rugby is honourably superior to football. During the last World Cup when Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg tried his hand at theatrics while playing against South Africa at St. James' Park (usually the home of Newcastle United), referee Nigel Owens was on hand to give him a quick reminder of the sport's etiquette. “There was nothing wrong with the tackle. If you want to dive like that again, come back here in two weeks and play [when the football's on], not today. Watch it”.

This is a good summing up of the expectations of the law inclusion to panelize those whose place should be in the theater if not in another game. “This change indicates that World Rugby are in line with the philosophy that rugby is a 'tough' game; a reputation that fans hold proudly, and do not want to see it tarnished by the amateur dramatics. It therefore follows a conclusion that and should be appreciated that that this form of behaviour is essentially cheating”.

The significance of this move by World Rugby is that it addresses a question of attitude; a question of values and beliefs surrounding the game - a rare sight in sport in Sri Lanka which is trying hard to make professionals of school children.

The bigger picture form the inclusion of this change for Sri Lankan Rugby and its boisterous rowdy spectators is that World Rugby is conscious of the need to uphold the philosophy of rugby. Come this rugby season and the schools not far away we will see how much of the game has gone into the heads of people who foster “hooliganism” directly or indirectly.

Changes to the scrum is to encourage faster restarts which includes teams being ready within 30 seconds for a scrum being awarded and that the 90 degree will not result in the team not in possession getting the throw in on a reset. The referee will also call use it of the ball remains at the feet of the No.8 in a stationary scrum.

Another change sees the implementation of a maul law application guideline. "Specifically, the ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed," read the statement from World Rugby. "A player is not allowed to move or slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty.

In the world of rugby as North meets South the need to play under the same laws is important. This same thinking has to apply to Sri Lanka as they take on other nations in the Asian Circuit in the Asian Rugby tournaments.

More to read to these amendments and the request and directions regards some areas of the law that need enforcement. These are areas of law that has been in the books and enforced adequately and include foul play. Of particular interest are high and neck tackles. Every time a neck is grabbed it is dangerous and people must understand choking by neck can occur even if player is on ground. Other areas include scrum feed and some aspects of the maul. Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited

Referees Evaluator IRB