Ruling could clean up rugby's breakdowns

Last updated 10:11 14/05/2009



The International Rugby Board (IRB) is hoping a new law ruling could help clean up the breakdown, referees manager Paddy O'Brien said today.
O'Brien said the ruling, approved by the IRB council "may make a difference to the dynamics of the tackle".

Under the ruling, if the tackler or the first person arriving at the breakdown had their hands on the ball, they were now entitled to keep their hands on the ball, even though a ruck had formed.

O'Brien said the ruling would begin to be used in the upcoming international season.
"Until we see it in operation, which we will see quite a lot of during the July test matches, we won't know exactly how it is going to work out.

"But I'm confident it will certainly assist refereeing and the players," he told Radio Sport.

The IRB also formally ratified a recommendation by their rugby committee to approve 10 of the 13 global experimental law variations (ELVs) into the rules of the game.

The recommendations of the IRB committee were unanimously approved and the laws would be implemented globally from May 23.

Most of the 10 ELVs which will become laws of the game relate to the line-out and scrum.

In addition, three Union-specific ELVs were also approved for integration into law.
These include the ability for a Union to implement a maximum 15-minute halftime in matches under its jurisdiction.

O'Brien said with today's decisions, there would be no further changes between now and 2011 World Cup hosted by New Zealand.

-NZPA

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