Contact-free rugby has the backing of Lions legend Geech

LIONS legend Sir Ian McGeechan has thrown his weight behind revolutionary proposals to make rugby a contact-free game at amateur level as a way back from the coronavirus crisis.

The idea has been mooted in England and McGeechan believes it should catch on.

It would mean no tackling, scrummaging or mauling and, in effect, be touch rugby. But McGeechan argues something needs to happen in the short term to ensure the sport and clubs can continue next season.

“Faced with the prospect of contactfree rugby (or more accurately a “nocontact game”) or no games, I would go for the hybrid option every time,” he writes in a column for the Sunday Telegraph.

“If there is no rugby, if there is nothing to watch, no socialising, no incentive for players to train, a club’s whole raison d’etre is taken away. We could see countless grassroots clubs lost.

“We have to remember, 99 per cent of rugby is amateur, run by volunteers and financially supported by members and local business.

“So could there be a hybrid solution to enable clubs to have a meaningful opportunity to open? I think so. It is far from ideal, and yes, it is not rugby as such. But it could be key for clubs whilst we transition from lockdown over the next season and beyond.”

McGeechan explained that when Wasps coach, he devised a rugbysoccer game called ‘Fugby’ which the players loved.

“It was great for core skills – kicking, passing, handling, catching – and ferociously competitive,” he says. “No, it was not rugby, but the players left training with smiles on their faces.

“Why not have such games to transition back into playing and encourage some hybrid competitions regionally with minimum expense?”