What rugby needs to do to get back to its roots and entertain customers.

[LeCheese]

Its just a stupid outcome. I didn't say it was applied incorrectly.

Not necessarily directed at you; it's an unfortunate outcome, but you're probably left with no other option when a certain try is impeded illegally.

 

[Dan54]

For those that disagree with yc, do you think the whole yc for panalty try thing is abolished, or only if it a player you like support?
I agree it harsh/unlucky even, but a lot of ycs are in my opinion. Do we have to go to a system where the TMO should measure how early a tackle is before the decision on the sanction?

 

[RugbyReg]

Good timing. Out over night by World Rugby.

World Rugby’s Shape of the Game forum in London has agreed recommendations to reimagine the spectacle and grow rugby’s share of attention within an increasingly competitive global sports and entertainment market.

With the game embarking on a new era of certainty with the introduction of new men’s and women’s global calendars from 2026, including new competitions such as the Nations Championship, and expanded Rugby World Cups, leading figures across the sport are united in driving forwards the entertainment value of the game through fan experience, laws and regulations reform.

While previous editions of the Shape of the Game forum delivered issue-specific short-term advancements, the 2024 edition is an important milestone in a new law review cycle and had a specific focus on a central mission of driving fan acquisition and retention by increasing relevance and accessibility.

Playing, coaching, officiating, competitions and fan experts representing five specialist committees (men’s and women’s high performance, professional game, professional leagues and community rugby) were challenged to think big, think long-term and think collectively. Importantly, the groups were urged to view the game through a fan-focused lens.

Framing the discussions was a detailed review of the latest men’s, women’s and community playing, officiating and welfare trends as well as feedback from technology and audience experts and fans. In particular, delegates focused on addressing barriers to fan engagement – dead ball time, the elements that interrupt the flow of the game, technology, the terminology and marketing of the sport as a whole.

The group agreed the following key actions areas for World Rugby to explore in collaboration with key stakeholders prior to a detailed plan being presented to the federation’s Executive Board for consideration:

Shape of the Game 2024 recommendations

* Speed and flow: focus on aspects which keep the game flowing including speeding up the ‘use it’ call by referees at the breakdown, removing repeated scrums options, expanding the remit of the shot clock, a review of the offside law from kicks, and explore moves to provide the scrum-half with greater space and protection at the base of scrum, rucks and mauls.

* Language and presentation of the game: a renewed passion and urgency to focus on building rugby’s attention share via a fan-focused view of how the game is marketed, a consistent approach to presentation of the sport across all media environments and a focus on the moments in the game that really engage fans.

* Women’s game: a dedicated focus on the women’s game and adapting laws, recognising the unique characteristics, strengths and opportunities that exist to attract a new audience.

* Player welfare and wellbeing: a player-driven approach to advances in welfare, including a removal of the ‘croc roll’ and examining the breakdown.

* Disciplinary process review: streamlining the sport’s disciplinary and sanctioning processes to aid efficiency, consistency and fan understanding.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'd be in favour of removing the "double-penalty" of PT and yellow card, if we got a lot stricter with yellow cards for professional or deliberate penalties, including those that result in PT.

So "accidental" penalty that results in a PT (eg timing etc) is no YC, but deliberate fouls would be - but also not in PT situations

 

[PhilClinton]

I don't get the women's rugby point.

I'm not closely involved with the game but are there significant issues with the way the rules of rugby impact the women's game?

 

[Drew]

For those that disagree with yc, do you think the whole yc for panalty try thing is abolished, or only if it a player you like support?
I agree it harsh/unlucky even, but a lot of ycs are in my opinion. Do we have to go to a system where the TMO should measure how early a tackle is before the decision on the sanction?

in the discussed instance it shouldn’t be black and white, Jorgensens timing was a split second off with the ball unsighted. It took a thousand replays in slow motion to figure out. If there was obvious clearance when the tackle occurred, definitely yellow. Whether it’s a crowd favourite doesn’t come into it for me.

 

[Braveheart81]

I'd be in favour of removing the "double-penalty" of PT and yellow card, if we got a lot stricter with yellow cards for professional or deliberate penalties, including those that result in PT.

So "accidental" penalty that results in a PT (eg timing etc) is no YC, but deliberate fouls would be - but also not in PT situations

The obvious change to the laws here is to move some of these items from the foul play law. Take scrums, mauls and early tackles out of the foul play framework so that an action preventing a certain try from being scored doesn't have to come with a yellow card as the laws currently have it.

I don't get the women's rugby point.

I'm not closely involved with the game but are there significant issues with the way the rules of rugby impact the women's game?

I think it's just saying that it needs to be considered because until you do that you won't know whether there are specific items that could be addressed or improved that relate to the women's game in particular.

I'd think of it like car safety and crash test dummies. Women are less safe in car accidents because all crash test dummies were based around average sized men so car safety was optimized for them.

 

[Strewthcobber]

The obvious change to the laws here is to move some of these items from the foul play law.

I think it's even easier

Just add one word in the PT law to match the existing foul play law

A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. A player guilty of this must be cautioned and or temporarily suspended or sent off. No conversion is attempted.

Foul play principle

A player who commits foul play must either be cautioned or temporarily suspended or sent off.

 

[Wilson]

I think it's even easier

Just add one word in the PT law to match the existing foul play law



Foul play principle

That's a much better solution, moving early tackles out of foul play would be a massive over correction.

 

[Dan54]

in the discussed instance it shouldn’t be black and white, Jorgensens timing was a split second off with the ball unsighted. It took a thousand replays in slow motion to figure out. If there was obvious clearance when the tackle occurred, definitely yellow. Whether it’s a crowd favourite doesn’t come into it for me.

Mate in full agreement it wasn't a bad penalty etc, and a split second off etc, isn't that what a lot of yc's are though? Slightly misting a chase and bringing someone down in the air, etc etc. I think if this wasn't a yc we open the door to a lot more confusion than we have.

 

[Drew]

Mate in full agreement it wasn't a bad penalty etc, and a split second off etc, isn't that what a lot of yc's are though? Slightly misting a chase and bringing someone down in the air, etc etc. I think if this wasn't a yc we open the door to a lot more confusion than we have.

I can see that, but unless it’s a clanger (tackling someone who obviously doesn’t have the ball), I reckon penalty try is sufficient punishment. To me, an innocuous yc turned a good contest on its head, I’m definitely not saying the Tahs were robbed, the Reds seemed the better team on the night. And I do get that if precedents are set, that becomes a standard: like “how does that compare to the Jorgensen YC Incident?”. But in the discussion of how to improve the spectacle of rugby, it just doesn’t seem the punishment fit the crime. Yellows for head contact/no arms? Sure, we need to change the way the game is approached concerning concussions, etc. knockdowns? I’m a bit borderline there, but I’m happy to see it policed consistently and that cynical play to stop attacking play is punished. .

 

[Strewthcobber]

In the middle of an otherwise excellent Highlanders v Blues, from 49:00 on the match clock through around 60 mins, we had almost 15 mins real time of scrum resets, penalty kicks at goal, kick-off and handbags.

There was barely a tackle or a pass, and the only reason there was even that much action was Gardiner was right on both teams to hurry them up, and making them play scrum ball at the back

This is what has to change. Exactly this stuff

 

[Drew]

In the middle of an otherwise excellent Highlanders v Blues, from 49:00 on the match clock through around 60 mins, we had almost 15 mins real time of scrum resets, penalty kicks at goal, kick-off and handbags.

There was barely a tackle or a pass, and the only reason there was even that much action was Gardiner was right on both teams to hurry them up, and making them play scrum ball at the back

This is what has to change. Exactly this stuff

That timeframe coincides with when subs are usually brought on. As the game should be opening up due to fatigue, etc, we have whole new combinations coming on. There’s another thread about reducing the number of subs. I think 5/6 is enough, including a full front row.