THE TACKLE
1. Incorporate those aspects of the tackle that are currently matters of referee interpretation and protocols as Laws in the Law Book
a: Define "clear release"
b: Define "The Tackle Gate" properly in the Law book, with a description and a diagram or drawing.
c: Define the order in which things must happen at the tackle i.e. tackler release > tackled player place/pass/push/release > jackler plays ball through gate etc
REASONS:
So that we have have all referees following consistent protocols at the tackle in all levels of the game
2. Remove Law 15.4 (c) to take away the tackler’s right to play the ball from any direction, i.e. make him roll away and then come through the tackle gate like everyone else.
REASONS:
a: Reduced decision-making for the referee, who no longer has to determine who is a tackler and who isn’t.
b: To make it so that all players on their feet at the breakdown are treated the same way.
3. Outlaw squeeze-ball completely as it is lying on the ball, a breach of Law 15.5 (a). The tackled player must not position himself over the ball, or remain positioned over the ball, and then push the ball between his legs. If a player is tackled into such a position, he must immediately roll onto his side and release, or push the ball out one side.
REASON: Reduced decision-making for the referee, who no longer has to judge whether or not the tackled player is intentionally slowing down the ball.
4. Only allow clean-out of players in the tackle gate and immediately either side of the gate, and specify this in Law. Players more than 1m beyond or "abeam" the gate must not be cleaned out.
REASON:
Reduced decision-making for the referee, who no longer has to judge whether or not the cleaner has run past the side or too far beyond the tackle.
TACKLE/RUCK
5. When a Ball Carrier goes to ground with the ball, the ball is deemed to be on the ground even if it is not in contact with the ground.
REASON
Reduced judgement requirement for the referee, who no longer has to judge whether or not the ball was on the ground before the ruck formed.
6. Outlaw the saddle roll completely as this is collapsing a ruck - Law 16.3 (c). Arriving players at the tackle may push players in the gate back (in a direction roughly parallel to the touch-lines) and to the ground if they wish, but must not grasp roll & them to the side and to the ground.
REASON
Player safety and consistency with Law
MAUL
7. Change priority order in Law 17.6 (c). Make whoever took the ball into contact irrelevant. If a maul ends unsuccessfully, the throw-in to the scrum is determined in the following priority...
a. the team going forward
b. the team in possession
c. the attacking team
REASON: Reduce the incentive to collapse a maul to turn-over possession.
MAUL FROM LINE-OUT
8. When a player jumps or is lifted to catch a ball in a line out he may tap, hit, or throw the ball to a team-mate while still in the air but he must not begin to hand the ball to a team-mate (and no team-mate may touch the ball in the jumper's hands) until the jumper has returned to the ground with both feet.
REASON:
To make it more difficult to illegally form a maul at a line-out that prevents the opposing team from having opportunity to sack it
SCRUM
9. Make all scrum infringements (including those that are currently FK, but excepting those that are deemed dangerous play) a penalty kick that cannot be kicked for goal (i.e. they still get gain in ground and throw in for the non-infringing team).
Exceptions would be;
20.1 (i) Charging
20.8 (h) and 20.9 (a) Collapsing
20.8 (i) Lifting/Forcing up
... which would all remain as for any other PK
REASON:
To prevent teams misusing the scrum as a means of scoring points rather than for its stated and defined purpose; "...to restart play quickly, safely and fairly, after a minor infringement or a stoppage."
