Rolling Substitutions...The next law change?

toomevara

It appears that a number of interested parties are mooting the possible adoptation of rolling substitutions a la rugby league....It works in league (after some serious initial teething difficulties) but I don't see how it could possibly work in union without fundamentally changing the constitution of the game.

Martin Johnson has come out in favour:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8286142.stm

Whereas former Rugby League legend and current RU Wales/Wasps/Lions coach Shaun edwards says no:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/02/rugby-union-rolling-substitutions

Downtime

toomevara wrote: »

It appears that a number of interested parties are mooting the possible adoptation of rolling substitutions a la rugby league....It works in league (after some serious initial teething difficulties) but I don't see how it could possibly work in union without fundamentally changing the constitution of the game.

Martin Johnson has come out in favour:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8286142.stm

Whereas former Rugby League legend and current RU Wales/Wasps/Lions coach Shaun edwards says no:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/02/rugby-union-rolling-substitutions

Already being trialled in Leinster Leagues and works quite well. The onus is really on the teams to ensure that they comply with front row replacement law.

tHE vAGGABOND

best law ever for phat blokes like me

stephen_n

Works quite well at junior level when there are more breaks in the game don't see it working so well at the higher levels though!

racso1975

the list of all recommendations:

RFU 'Image of the Game' task group recommendations:


Gamesmanship, foul play and cheating: Include a definition of cheating in the Rules of the RFU and create a specific regulation covering this issue with severe sanctions associated.


Fabricated blood injuries: IRB to establish guidelines on extent of blood required to necessitate substitution occurring and the role of the 4th official in confirming them. Continue and extend PRL voluntary code whereby opposition doctors have a right to examine alleged blood injuries. Increased recording and registering of blood substitutions at Union and IRB level.


Concussion: Recommend the IRB amend current regulations to allow temporary removal of players with possible concussion from the playing area and enable replacement for 15 minutes. This requires further analysis and consultation.


Feigned injuries: Monitor the impact of changes to Law 3 and uncontested scrums on the Guinness Premiership and European games. Recommend the IRB monitors the prevalence of uncontested scrums at the international level.


Medical intervention and local anaesthetics: RFU to recommend to IRB that they change regulation 10.2 to allow the use of local anaesthetics on match day for specific injuries and subject to informed consent. Until that time all English clubs and teams to adhere to the current regulation.


Protecting health care workers in professional rugby: Recommend to RFU and IRB that professional codes of ethics take precedence of any employer/employee contracts or other service agreement.


Rolling substitutions: Recommend that the RFU convene a specialist group to consider the issues involved and, if appropriate, trial rolling substitutions in a domestic competition. A report to be submitted to the IRB on the success or otherwise of such a trial.


Use of illicit drugs: Recommend that the RFU works urgently with the clubs and players associations to develop an illicit drugs policy to cover out of competition testing. Players contracts to include an obligation to comply with the requirements of such a policy. The IRB to be provided with a copy of the final policy to ensure alignment with global policies.


Use of performance enhancing drugs: Recommend the RFU maintains its leadership position in monitoring developments in this area and establishing policies and processes to address the issue.


Core Values: Support the roll out of the This is Rugby programme and suggest investment be increased in this important area. In particular focus on education programmes for all levels to ensure the Values are fully understood.


Codes of conduct: Ensure the newly agreed Code of Rugby has primacy over all Codes of Conduct in the RFU and in PRL and PRA. Recommend the RFU rationalises and updates its various Codes of Conduct to make them relevant and current. Create a clearing house for Codes of Conduct in the professional game to better align them around the Core Values.


Whistle blowing: Recommend that professional clubs review their current HR policies to enable staff and contractors to raise issues outside the line management function. RFU to ask Governance Standing Committee to consider as part of its Compliance Review.


Technical area issues: Recommend to IRB and other governing bodies that a consistent approach to the technical zone be applied across the whole professional game including at International level. Broaden the authority of the 4th Official to govern the technical zone and better define and limit which personnel be allowed in the zone.


Club and union governance: Recommends the RFU and PRL establish some guiding principles to ensure the appropriate safeguards are in place in clubs and the union. Various areas for consideration identified.


Improving the disciplinary process: Recommend to IRB, RFU, ERC and other competition bodies that all regulations for professional rugby at all levels include a clear timetable for dealing with allegations and for the publishing of judgments to happen within four days of a hearing.


Consistency of global sanctions: An observation made to the IRB that inconsistency in sanctions for similar cases has the potential to impact confidence in the game. IRB and RFU to take forward through their normal review processes

toomevara

Downtime wrote: »

Already being trialled in Leinster Leagues and works quite well. The onus is really on the teams to ensure that they comply with front row replacement law.

Oh right, thanks for that...had no idea. Interesting.

Blisterman

A potential problem is that teams will wheel out different players depending on what's happening in the match
i.e. Bigger more powerful players, when the ball's in the opponants 22, faster one's for midfield play.
As someone said the other day in the Guardian, Johnny Wilkinson would still be playing at 50, if he only had to come out when a crucial kick needed to be taken.

RuggieBear

in hockey, there used to be this problem at short corners where a striking specialist would be taken off the bench with the sole aim of hitting the ball at the short corner....these guys were often into their 40's. The rule was changed so that no substitutions could be made on the award of a short corner.

GreeBo

RuggieBear wrote: »

in hockey, there used to be this problem at short corners where a striking specialist would be taken off the bench with the sole aim of hitting the ball at the short corner....these guys were often into their 40's. The rule was changed so that no substitutions could be made on the award of a short corner.

If you come on you should have to stay on for X minutes. That might address this sort of thing as you wouldnt want the 40 year old trying to sprint back and defend...?

toomevara

GreeBo wrote: »

If you come on you should have to stay on for X minutes. That might address this sort of thing as you wouldnt want the 40 year old trying to sprint back and defend...?

In rugby League we've got 12 interchanges..once they're used thats it. So you have a match day squad of 17...13 on the field and 4 interchanges. It gives the game a whole new tactical element.

Eoin

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

best law ever for phat blokes like me

I hear you! Made my decision to return to waddling around a pitch that little bit easier. Was just at a game tonight where it's in play, and it worked really well.

OldJay

A law should be changed in order to improve and develop the game. Not to prevent cheating.
Cheating should be policed by the officials on and off the pitch. That is where procedures should be enhanced or amended.
Part of the canny required in squad selection is the mixture of your replacements according to their skillset and what they can offer if brought on.
Just my opinion of course.

lankylock

This seems like a good rule in and of itself, but, especially at professional level, it could make rugby like american football where only huge guys are able to play because fitness concerns would no longer make teams need to keep their sizes in check.

The Rooster

Increase bench sizes to 9. But once you're substituted, you have to stay off.

CdeC

Justind wrote: »

A law should be changed in order to improve and develop the game. Not to prevent cheating.
Cheating should be policed by the officials on and off the pitch. That is where procedures should be enhanced or amended.
Part of the canny required in squad selection is the mixture of your replacements according to their skillset and what they can offer if brought on.
Just my opinion of course.

Agreed, I think this is a bad idea. Maybe increase bench size as the demands of the game are higher than ever and to accomodate enough front rowers.

murphym7

I wish they would stop messing with the game, I know people will say that continous improvement is great for the game, keep the game evolving etc....I do not aggree, the game could become unrecgonisable in 10 years. Its already hugely different from when I played, I'm not saying all rule changes are bad but a bit of calm is needed. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

columok

tbh this seems like the shifting of rugby more towards american football where specialist players are brought in for different parts of the field. The beauty of current rugby union is the many aspects of each positions, both offensively and defensively and how teams have to accept both the pros and cons of a given player.