Eight ways to improve rugby

We are three former players mortified at the direction our game has taken. From a fast, entertaining game of skill and nuance, play has become turgid, uninspiring and devoid of creativity. Here are some ideas to improve it: 1. A tackled player should play the ball without delay, either by releasing it or placing it, and then get up or roll away.

2. Players should be required to stay on their feet and bind, rather than ‘belly flop’ onto a tackled player. 3. Penalise crooked scrum feeds. 4. Surely every fan is sick of the battering by the offensive side five yards from the try-line. The ball-carrier at the back of the ‘trailer’ is protected by his forwards in front of him. This is obstruction and should be penalised.

5. A prop’s outside foot should be no further back than below the chest to stop interminable collapsing scrums.

6. Players should immediately join lineouts and engage in set scrums. Time-wasting should be penalised.

7. Substitutions should only be allowed for injuries. Rugby is about stamina; the fitter team should be allowed to prevail.

8. Abolish ‘marking’ the ball in the 22.

John Simonett, Gavin Coventry & Sandy Pratt

RW says: What do other readers think of these suggestions?