(1) Have a deputy referee

The ref, in theory, has to keep his eyes on 30 players. We all know he misses things but especially galling and more common in the professional game are the off the ball incidents.

Solution: a deputy referee looking for just such infringements. The touch judges help but have plenty to look for already and they see only one angle (from the side). There are more officials in American Football. Hockey has this double ref arrangement (or used to).

Result: a fairer game with fewer flash points.

(2) Change the penalty goal law

An infringement on the half way line is almost as likely to be punished by three points as one 5 metres from the try line. This is not right since Rugby Union is a territorial game (i.e. you have to cross the try line to score a try and, as we all know, that is more likely the closer the team gets to the line. However modern balls and siege gun kickers, including our own Stimmo, can slot the ball over from inside their own half.

Solutions: either (a) ban kicks at goal from penalties given outside the 22 or (b) the ball may only be placed for a kick at goal 15 metres behind the mark for the penalty. (b) lengthens the kick by 15 metres thus taking the goal out of range at least until play reaches the attacking ten metre line.

Result: fewer penalty goals, fewer kicks at goal, more running rugby.

(3) The tackle

This has always been a difficult area. I was always taught to bring the man to ground. The current law actually encourages high tackling by rewarding defending teams that can keep the ball carrier on his feet. High tackling (‘big hits’) is dangerous and leads to more injuries. Once the ball carrier and the tackler are on the ground, a pile up is likely which slows the game down and opens the possibility of reward for those good at ‘the dark arts’.

Solution: change the law of the maul back to ‘the team going forward gets the scrum’. However, limit the forward motion of a maul to 10 metres before a scrum is awarded. That should limit the rolling maul and the temptation for the defence to pull it down. A further more radical change would be to demand release of the ball on contact with the ground. No placing the ball or rolling over.

Result: A faster game in which the ball carrier tries to stay on his feet and is encouraged to pass out of the tackle. Defenders are rewarded for good, safe tackles that bring the man to the ground.

(4) Punish the guilty

A yellow card sees a player removed from the game for ten minutes (unless there’s less than ten minutes to go). That does not often seem to be much of a punishment. Would 15 minutes be better. With extra time being added if someone is yellow carded close to the end of the match. Penalties following yellow cards could be exempt from the 15 metre back rule (see (2) above).

A red card sees the player removed from the field of play for the rest of the match, which is right and proper. However the punishment to the team is variable depending on when in the match the player was sent off. I’d allow a replacement for the red carded player after 30 minutes. However, to go with this, I’d be tougher at the disciplinary hearing. A five week ‘rest’ is no great punishment.

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