- Target:
- International Rugby Board
- Region:
- GLOBAL
For several years the International Rugby Board has been tinkering with the rules of Rugby Union in order to improve the spectacle of the game. Unfortunately this is a problem of the IRB’s making. It removed rucking from the game in order to improve the safety. The unintended consequence was constant infringement at the ruck and an unpleasant increase of the referees’ interference in the game.
The purpose of this petition is amend a single law of the game which will not materially increase the danger of the contest while speeding up the game and removing the unnecessary influence of the referee to the outcome.
Please note the referees are not to blame as they must referee the laws as they are. It is the laws themselves that make this situation what it is.
We the undersigned players, administrators and supporters of rugby union request an amendment to Law 16.3 (f) of the Laws of Rugby Union Football.
The Law currently states:
A player rucking for the ball must not ruck players on the ground. A player rucking for the ball tries to step over players on the ground and must not intentionally step on them. A player rucking must do so near the ball.
Penalty: Penalty Kick for dangerous play
The Amended Law should be:
A player rucking for the ball must not ruck above and including the shoulders of players on the ground. A player rucking for the ball must always have one foot on the ground. A player rucking must do so near the ball.
Penalty: Penalty Kick for dangerous play
This amendment is made regarding opens rugby and should not apply to any variations to the Laws for U19 players or younger.
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The Amend the Rucking Law petition to International Rugby Board was written by Ben Elston and is in the category Football at GoPetition.