Radical overhaul of rugby laws to protect players

Radical rugby law changes, including the outlawing of reset scrums and team huddles, are on the cards when rugby resumes after the Covid-19 pandemic.

World Rugby’s medical team have proposed a host of revolutionary new laws to be introduced to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Fans can prepare themselves for a spectacle like they have never seen before as the safety of players becomes a paramount concern.

Scrums have been red-flagged as the most dangerous phase of the game regarding the potential for virus transmission.

The shake-up the includes reset scrums being banned, as well as upright tackles.

Team huddles, which have been tradition for years before and during games, would also be outlawed in another radical change.

The proposals will also see players required to change kit and headgear at halftime and ordered to wash their hands and face with soap for 20 seconds before kickoff and then during the interval.

It is also suggested match balls are changed and cleaned frequently, with spitting on the pitch also banned.

Key recommendations have been put forward in a report compiled by World Rugby, which will be voted on by their executive committee.

World Rugby have assembled a panel of medical experts to compile the report, which was produced with feedback from more than 80 medical officers.

It examines transmission risk via sweat and saliva at every facet of the game, including scrums, tackles and at the breakdown.

If approved by World Rugby’s executive, the temporary law guidelines will then be adopted by individual unions, including the SA Rugby Union, at their own discretion.

Banishing reset scrums is one of the key conclusions of the study, with the report finding they take up 3.6 minutes of match time.

The medics feel banning them would reduce high-risk transmission exposure time by 30%.

Props and second rows are viewed as the most vulnerable players, spending an average of more than 13 minutes per match in high transmission risk situations.

Scrums are identified as making up 50% of high-risk exposure time during an 80minute match.

The award of a free-kick against the infringing side will almost certainly replace a reset, the idea likely to meet favour with lots of pundits and fans who have argued for years that far too much time is wasted on getting scrums 100% right.

World Rugby’s next main recommendation is to eliminate upright tackles, which they say would reduce high-risk exposure by 20%.

Choke tackles also likely to be outlawed as players are encouraged to avoid any sort of face to face contact.

Technically face-to-face tackles are against the law, but if the recommendations are implemented referees would be compelled to crack down further.

It is not known when rugby will resume in SA, but there has been speculation that players could be back on the field in late September or October.

The Isuzu Southern Kings have been warned they may only rejoin the Guinness PRO14 competition in January 2021.

This is because a proposed SA Derby League might overlap with the start of the new PRO14 season.

To make up lost ground, Kings could be playing for PRO14 log points even when they face the Cheetahs in the SA Derby League or Currie Cup later this season.

The continued uncertainty regarding cross-border travel in the global five-nation PRO14 league means the Kings and Cheetahs are unlikely to travel overseas again in 2020.