The International Rugby Board (IRB) has further induced new rules in an effort of rejuvenating the lively game of sport. The latest variations will come into force probably by next year.
The laws of rugby union are controlled by a standing Laws Committee with current chairperson, Bill Beaumont. The Laws of the Game are formulated by the IRB, and are then circulated by the national Unions. There are 21 regulations in total, these regulations range from definitions, eligibility, advertising, disciplinary, anti-doping and a number of other areas.
Veteran Crusaders coach, Robbie Deans who has re-signed for another year with the New Zealand Rugby Union is confident that the new laws will surely simplify the game for players, referees, spectators thereby improving the national game as well.
The law variations of the game state that the offside line for players not in the scrum and who are not a halfback, must stand 5m behind the hindmost foot. A tackled player must play the ball and may not be prevented from playing it by any player off his feet. The rules also allow for defending players to pull down mauls and the “truck and trailer” is no longer an offence. Other rule changes include touch judges being renamed flag judges who can indicate offside at the tackle by raising their flags. Besides these a number of amendments to the lineout laws have also been made.
How good the new rules bear out, will indeed be truly tested ahead of the provisional competitions.
Via: stuff
