Re: Pushing ("supporting") your own ball carrier into the opposition tacklers
Stretching my mind a bit (not all the way to 1883!) it was something you'd occasionally see when a team had a 5m penalty, but it was rare enough that nobody did anything.
Then a kiwi(?) club side started doing it as a more general tactic as a way of breaking the line and getting quick ball (and more sides followed suit), which is when the authorities decided it should be globally banned.
I thought it was later than '96, though. I'm sure I remember Italy doing it when they first joined the 6 nations!
Stretching my mind a bit (not all the way to 1883!) it was something you'd occasionally see when a team had a 5m penalty, but it was rare enough that nobody did anything.
Then a kiwi(?) club side started doing it as a more general tactic as a way of breaking the line and getting quick ball (and more sides followed suit), which is when the authorities decided it should be globally banned.
I thought it was later than '96, though. I'm sure I remember Italy doing it when they first joined the 6 nations!