How Rassie helped pull the plug on water boys

UNINTENDED consequences? You can’t move for them in the Union game.

World Rugby has just announced another of its “global trials” (the nongoverning governing body comes up short on many measures, but self-importance is not among them).

The subject this time is water carriers, particularly those who double up as head coaches or rugby directors. Rassie Erasmus, the moving spirit behind South Africa’s return to the top of the log and current No.1 villain, is the man widely credited with raising the NGGB from its slumbers, but Rassie being Rassie, he won’t be losing any of his own sleep.

As a knock-on, so to speak, there will be more general restrictions on water carriers of the rank-and-file variety: a maximum of two visits per half. Should players find themselves running dry, extra H2O will be available behind the dead-ball lines.

Which is problematic, especially for teams with…er…leaky defences. The likes of Bath and Worcester are spending so much time under their own sticks these days, they could overhydrate. Which is no laughing matter. Hyponatremia, otherwise known as “water intoxication”, can land a chap in hospital.

Still, it’s good to see the NGGB on a roll. Only this month, they enjoyed a “landmark moment”, described by some as “seismic”, by agreeing to hold the 2031 World Cup in the United States – yes, the same United States who are struggling to qualify for the 2023 edition and only recently shipped 100 points to a mix-andmatch New Zealand team. (Happily, that game was played under existing water rules).

What is more, there is still talk of playing a World Cup final-lite in two of the three years when there is no World Cup final proper. Which is good news for trophy engravers, who will soon be busier than the water carriers.