STELLENBOSCH LAWS

The 'Stellenbosch Laws' are a proposed set of amendments to the laws of rugby union that are due to come into effect in 2008. The sport of rugby union is governed by a set of rules that stretch to approximately 150 pages. The governing body the International Rugby Board (IRB) trialed games at Stellenbosch University in South Africa with the aim of simplifying the rules of the game and enabling refereeing decisions to be more consistent. The term 'Stellenbosch Laws' was first used by Spiro Zavos (see links below).

Contents

Panel

Laws

Trials

References

External links

Panel

The Stellenbosch Laws were devised on behalf of the IRB by Rod Macqueen who coached the 1999 World Cup winning Australian side, Pierre Villepreux of France, Richie Dixon of Scotland and Ian McIntosh of South Africa.

Laws

The new laws are:

★ In the original version of the laws, players were allowed to use their hands at all times at the breakdown. A slightly different rule, prohibiting hands in the ruck but making it only a short-arm penalty, has been trialled as well. The final rule regarding hands in the ruck has not been established. In any event, players must come into the breakdown in an onside position, and only players who are on their feet are allowed to play the ball. The side that takes the ball into the breakdown and will not release it is penalised.

★ At the scrum, all backs except for the two scrum-halves must be at least 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum, instead of level with it as allowed in the current laws.

★ Either side can use as many players as they like in the lineout, at any time, providing they fit inside the 15-metre line.

★ The opposing hooker in a lineout no longer has to stand between the 5-metre line and touchline; he can stand anywhere he wishes as long as he conforms to the laws.

★ On a quick throw in the ball can be thrown straight or 'back' towards the defenders goal line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line.

★ Touch judges are to become "flag referees" with a primary responsibility of policing the offside lines.

★ Long-arm penalties are to be given only for offside and foul play. All other penalties are short-arm penalties (free kicks, with the option of taking a scrum as in the current laws).

★ If the ball is passed or run back into the 22 and then kicked out on the full before a tackle, ruck or maul, the lineout is taken from where the kick was made. However, if the kick bounces into touch, the lineout is taken from where the ball went into touch, as in the present laws.

★ The maul can be collapsed by defending sides without incurring a penalty.

★ The corner flag, currently situated where the try line meets the touchline, will be removed. Under the current laws, a try is disallowed if a player touches the corner flag while attempting to touch the ball down, even if his body and the ball are not in touch.

Trials

The initial trials were held at Stellenbosch University in 2006. The I.R.B. has decided to expand the trials in a 20 match competition in Scotland. After which a review will be sent to the IRB for their final decision. It is expected that the laws will enter into widespread use in 2008.
Trials were also (and continue to be) held at Cambridge University in the first division of their inter-college league over several seasons. It was expected that the high intellect of the students would make the league an ideal testing ground for the new laws, since they would quickly discover and exploit any advantages that could be gained from the changes.
The laws will be implemented for the 2007 Australian Rugby Championship. This is in response to the popular feedback received from when some of the laws were applied to Sydney and Brisbane club competitions.^[1]

References

1. > Black and White and Grey

External links

★ Trialling laws mortals can understand

★ Rewriting rugby's laws

★ Story on trial of proposed law changes in England

★ Spiro Zavos expands on the impact of the Stellenbosch Laws