ARC - Stellenbosch Laws

[tdevil]

The ARC will use the Stellenbosch Laws to speed up the game and rather run the ball than kick the ball. Here is just a brief explanation of the law changes:

Known as the “Stellenbosch Laws”, after the South African University where they were initially devised and trialled, the laws are already under the microscope in the Brisbane club competition and have received glowing reviews.
While a larger number of law changes are being trialled in the UK, just eight are being tested in Australia.
Former International rugby referee and now Referee Manager with the Australian Rugby Union Peter Marshall says the aim is to keep the ball in play for longer periods.
“What they’re trying to achieve is to make the game easier to play and to make the game easier to understand for spectators, making it more enjoyable,” Peter Marshall said.
“If you take a lot of the penalty kicks out of the game, it will let the players decide the outcome, not the officials,” he said.
Among the law changes being trialled is a discouragement of having the ball thrown back inside the 22 metres.
If the ball is passed or run back inside the 22 metre line and then kicked out of play on the full, then a line-out will be formed from where the ball was kicked, rather than where it crossed the touch line - This has the effect of encouraging more running of the ball rather than seeking relief from a kick into touch.
Under the changes there is no maximum number of players in a lineout, but a minimum of two.
Every player not in a scrum, with the exception of the scrum half are required to stand no closer than five metres from the hindmost foot of the scrum.
This law change is aimed at promoting more space and therefore more open play.
As any law changes need ratification by the International Rugby Board through the national unions, they would not be introduced permanently before 2008.

[Thequeerone]

Shock Horror - so there's no time for a mexican wave - or time to watch cheerleaders - the game will die !

[Burgs]

My understanding from the half time wrap on the NSW ABC Grand Final coverage was that the ARC was going to use the entire compliment of Stellenbosch Laws which only meant incorporating I think four more than what NSW and Qld Club Rugby had been using anyway.
It is to be the highest level trial of the Laws.

[Thequeerone]

so can you give us a summary Burgs

[Darren]

The new laws are:

* In the original version of the laws, players were allowed to use their hands at all times at the breakdown. However, this has since been abandoned, but the use of hands in the ruck will now be a short-arm penalty. 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.

[Burgs]

What he said
I especially like the Touch Judge offside initiative, at least they will have a reason to interrupt the game now...

[shasta]

* In the original version of the laws, players were allowed to use their hands at all times at the breakdown. However, this has since been abandoned, but the use of hands in the ruck will now be a short-arm penalty. 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.

I'm guessing this was a copy/paste job Coach. But the way I understood it from the ABC on the weekend was that a providing a player entered thru the gate and is on his feet he can play the ball with his hands. I think this is a plus. The quicker the ruck is cleared the better.

[Darren]

Yes - I think you're right there Shasta - Here's another version of the proposed changes at the breakdown

At the breakdown, players can use their hands at all times. They must come into the breakdown "through the gate". No foul play is allowed. Otherwise, anything goes. The side that takes the ball into the breakdown and can't release it is penalised.

[Thequeerone]

Do the touch judges get to indicate fouling at the breakdown (this is were it seems to happen the most )

[zimeric]

with the faster flowing game, im wondering if the laws might be changed to allow an extra couple of bench players or a roll-on roll-off scheme...

The guys will run out of puff very quickly!! especially the forwards.

[hopep]

The other good part of the new laws, as I saw them in the trial match, was that once the penalty has been awarded anyone can rip the ball out of the maul/ruck and get on with the game.
It really hammers players who lie over the ball to slow things down.
and not letting the ball come out (so you can slowly get up) is a 10M march.
No - we don't need more interchange, the players at ARC level are up to the fitness challenge

[zimeric]

i hope youre right... nothing worse than a team losing their legs with 10 to go.... The main reason im concerned is at the end of many top flight games you are always seeing players cramping up etc.. especially if the game has to go into extra time for any reason... im pretty sure flankers, half backs and the back line will cope .. its the locks, hooker and props im worried about!

[Ecky]

Yep, there's no such thing as a "ruck" in the ELV's (Stellenbosch Laws - no, that'd be SL's - Experimental Law Variations), so there's no issue with using your hands. But you must be on your feet. And, if you arrive at the tackle contest, you still gotta enter "through the gate".

Also, the turnover at a maul that stops is no longer a scrum to the team who didn't take the ball in; it's a free kick.

Also, a lineout still has minimum numbers, just no maximum.

Basically, heaps of free kicks, still a few penalties, ball in play a lot.

Hint: listen out for the ground announcer during Friday's game as he will be explaining some of these ELV's as they happen. Hopefully will help

Maybe, after a while, a tactic might be to opt for a scrum instead of a FK? Backs are 10m from each other, allowing more room. Plus the front row/tight 5 can catch their breath by forming up for a scrum...

[travelling_gerry]

Hope its a better ground announcer than the one last year at MES....


And no....I dont mean you TIF

[shasta]

Hope its a better ground announcer than the one last year at MES....

Long as it's not the one from Subi. Understandable knowing naff all about Rugby or who the players were the first season. But not the second.