Players face big changes when rugby restarts
Radical laws proposed at all levels to limit risk of coronavirus
A HOST of revolutionary new laws are set to be introduced to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission when rugby returns.
The huge shake-up to the game, proposed by World Rugby’s medical team, includes reset scrums being banned, as well as upright tackles.
Team huddles, which have been tradition for years as the captain barks out instructions, would also be outlawed in another radical change.
The proposals will also see players required to change kit and headgear at half-time and ordered to wash their hands and face with soap for 20 seconds before kick-off and then during the interval.
It is also suggested match balls are changed and cleaned frequently, with spitting on the pitch also banned.
The key recommendations have been put forward in a report compiled by World Rugby, which will be voted upon by their executive committee this week.
Wales team doctor Prav Mathema was one of four experts tasked with compiling 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 the breakdown.
If approved by World Rugby’s executive, the temporary law guidelines will then be adopted by individual unions, including the WRU, 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 per cent.
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 per cent of high-risk exposure time during an 80 minute 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 far too much time is wasted on getting scrums 100 per cent right.
World Rugby’s next main recommendation is to eliminate upright tackles, which they say would reduce high-risk exposure by 20 per cent. Choke tackles are 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.
The idea of ending team huddles, which occur frequently before, during and immediately after matches, will take some getting used to for rugby sides at every level of the game.
It is one of rugby’s biggest tradition, not just with full team huddles but also the forwards getting together at regular intervals of a game to discuss tactics and fire one another up.
You often see the eight forwards huddle together before a lineout, when there is a break in play, or when a try has just been conceded.
Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones is famous for getting his team together to hand out instructions, but if passed an end to team huddles will become a new law every team at international and grassroots level will need to adhere to.
It is unlikely World Rugby’s executive committee will ignore the recommendations of its own medical experts, although it will be up to individual unions to apply the law amendments.