Are the new rules stifling the game?

Has rugby union lost the plot and could well now be termed a sissy’s game?

That is the question many asked following the charge the Wallabies’ Fijian-born centre Samu Kerevi made in their match against Wales on Sunday night.

Surely when you hear the sport rugby, the first impression is that the players are sometimes referred to as ruggers and that its name derived from being a rugged physical contact sport.

But with the amount of rules being brought in by World Rugby, the game has gone much softer.

Of course, there needs to be strict laws in place for safety as to where a player cannot hit, like the head, but some are just ridiculous.

If one had watched that match, Kerevi was in full flight trying to barge past Welsh replacement playmaker Rhys Patchell and continued to try and to fend him aside.

The Wallabies and probably a lot of rugby followers were probably appalled that, after losing winger Reece Hodge for three weeks for a controversial high tackle, referee Romain Poite penalised Kerevi for an illegal fend on Patchell.

Kerevi, the Wallabies’ vice-captain who is known for his powerful ball carries, expressed his frustration after the game and went on to say he would rather play rugby league, if the rules for union became more stifling.

In fact, in Australia, Australian footy and rugby league have more prominence over rugby union. The powerful running Kerevi said he had a job to do when carrying the ball forward and if people wanted to play touch sport or basketball then they should go and play it.

He said rugby was a collision sport and it should be that and nothing else.

In 2017, Welsh rugby’s Dale McIntosh expressed his dismay at rugby union having ‘gone soft’, describing the development on new laws as ‘sad’.

Wales Online, in its report said McIntosh, who played once for Wales and had coached Cardiff Blues, was naturally disappointed with the result, but launched into a passionate appraisal of the way new refereeing guidelines around contact with the head area are affecting the game. Interviewed by S4C afterwards, McIntosh said: “I don’t know where this game’s going. I was brought up as a young kid to play rugby in a physical manner and some of those tackles today, I coach.”

Speaking to 7News after the match, Kerevi said: “I love my rugby league, so I’ll have a look at NRL then.”

“If you want to play touch or go play basketball (then do it) but we’re here to run straight at people.” The new laws may well make the game safer, but it could also see many top players be lured by rugby league, to a sport where the game is more physical and ruled less by too many laws.