THE RUGBY RANT
The ruck must return to its roots for the good of the game, argues RW reader John Lovell
HIS IS the law of the ruck: The purpose of a ruck is to allow players to compete for the ball on the ground. A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball, which is on the ground.
But when was the last time you saw a ruck like the one described in the law book? A YouTube clip from the 1990s? A junior game? The reality is we don’t really have rucks anymore and it’s destroying the game and the players.
One, we’ve allowed tackled players to roll to prevent a competition for the ball that the laws describe. You can’t create that ‘contest’ when a tackled player is double rolling to protect the ball.
Two, we’ve become obsessed with the ‘jackal’. The reality of a ruck is that the defender gets over the ball, often illegally, preventing a ruck as described by the laws. This is contributing to the injury epidemic in the professional game.
It strikes me as bizarre that we’ve got very precious about use of feet at the breakdown when arguably it’s not as destructive as what happens in the modern ruck. Let’s not forget you might be tackled beyond the ruck or be the victim of a neck roll.
It’s what’s going on at the ruck that is causing severe injuries. We’ve allowed all aspects of the modern ruck to evolve with dire consequences.
TWe’ve allowed all aspects of the modern ruck to evolve
with dire consequences
My solution? Firstly, let’s have a contest over the ball where players have to stay on their feet. This culture will be helped by a renewed focus on the placement of the ball by the tackled player. They must place the ball as soon as the shoulders hit the ground, there must be no double or triple roll or it’s a penalty to the defending side.
It would complement a further change outlawing tackles above the nipples, which is already being trialled. This allows the defending team a clean shot at the ‘jackal’.
However, what we want to see is players trying to drive opponents off the ball, which I think the law envisages. This means the hits, tackles and neck rolls at the breakdown are outlawed.
It also strikes me as fairer because the team with the weight of numbers at the breakdown should rightly win the ball. I’m sure we would see a quicker game and, more importantly, a safer one.
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