Give me one way you would improve rugby union?

[pagliaccio_euforico]

This. More pressure needs to be placed on the players and ref to set up the scrums quicker. I'd argue 30sec is too long, players are capable of 15-20sec imo.

Also on resets, ban players from all standing up before re-forming again - although the ref would need to make the difference between pen and re-set very obvious, or sides could get caught out by quick tap pens if they stay down incorrectly.

Hot take. Adopt u19 scrum laws to the senior level. Get in, get out, quit ******* about.

 

[Ddanno]

I think my 2 changes have already been touched upon, but the latter derives from the former.

1. Stop considering safety as the most important part of the sport

How does this encourage parents to get Archie and Marigold to go to rugby over football or literally any other non-combat sport on Saturday morning

Life is risk, sport is risk, we balance that risk with entertainment, and there's a trade.

Philosophy, I suppose. Not sure what point you're making. Life is risk? I didn't ask to be born.

Every law change in the last 30 years has created more issues which have led to more law changes creating new issues...

Tell that to the props that suffered severe spinal injuries when scrums were colliding from a foot away before they had to be bound pre engage

Tell that to the litigants suffering brain trauma in the class action proceedings in the High Court that are threatening to wipe the game out

the 20 min red being perfect example in 95 yellows were introduced as a warning, then the sin bin, and here we are 20 years later and there are red reds, 20 minute reds and yellow cards for arbitrary reasons (look at Mauvakas incident this year v Ireland).

Yeah 20min reds can be binned. I don't like how refs seem to be shirking their responsibilities, it's a shield.

The safer world rugby try to make the sport, the less safe it becomes, and the more it promoted physical attributes over technical and skill.

This is patently nonsense

We could take all recent law decisions, the breakdown, making it illegal to touch the lower limbs, waist or head area lol, it's literally a race first to get their wins.

What?

The sub numbers, increasing numbers for safety, making props only require 50 mins of fitness, and ballooning to over 150kgs each, the tackle height clamp down hasn't actually clamped down on higher tackles, it's just created a scenario where matches are being thrown for easy red cards, to then have to reduce the impact of a red card lol.

2. A bye product of number 1 really. Sub numbers. Allow for a bench of 5, with 3 to be used as the coach sees fit, and 2 specialist injury replacements. Make all 15 players need to last 80 mins, the likes of Antonio, and other 150kg players would have to slim down or become huge liabilities after 65 mins.

Yeah I'm with you here. I'd like to see a reduced bench, reduced bulk and more athleticism around the pitch.



**** me for bothering but whatever

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I think my 2 changes have already been touched upon, but the latter derives from the former.

1. Stop considering safety as the most important part of the sport. Life is risk, sport is risk, we balance that risk with entertainment, and there's a trade.
Every law change in the last 30 years has created more issues which have led to more law changes creating new issues... the 20 min red being perfect example in 95 yellows were introduced as a warning, then the sin bin, and here we are 20 years later and there are red reds, 20 minute reds and yellow cards for arbitrary reasons (look at Mauvakas incident this year v Ireland).

The safer world rugby try to make the sport, the less safe it becomes, and the more it promoted physical attributes over technical and skill.

We could take all recent law decisions, the breakdown, making it illegal to touch the lower limbs, waist or head area lol, it's literally a race first to get their wins. The sub numbers, increasing numbers for safety, making props only require 50 mins of fitness, and ballooning to over 150kgs each, the tackle height clamp down hasn't actually clamped down on higher tackles, it's just created a scenario where matches are being thrown for easy red cards, to then have to reduce the impact of a red card lol.

2. A bye product of number 1 really. Sub numbers. Allow for a bench of 5, with 3 to be used as the coach sees fit, and 2 specialist injury replacements. Make all 15 players need to last 80 mins, the likes of Antonio, and other 150kg players would have to slim down or become huge liabilities after 65 mins.

you know thats never going to happen, legally the administrators have a duty of care, if they turn the game away from safety then theyre going to jail

 

[IT157]

I think my 2 changes have already been touched upon, but the latter derives from the former.

1. Stop considering safety as the most important part of the sport. Life is risk, sport is risk, we balance that risk with entertainment, and there's a trade.
Every law change in the last 30 years has created more issues which have led to more law changes creating new issues... the 20 min red being perfect example in 95 yellows were introduced as a warning, then the sin bin, and here we are 20 years later and there are red reds, 20 minute reds and yellow cards for arbitrary reasons (look at Mauvakas incident this year v Ireland).

The safer world rugby try to make the sport, the less safe it becomes, and the more it promoted physical attributes over technical and skill.

We could take all recent law decisions, the breakdown, making it illegal to touch the lower limbs, waist or head area lol, it's literally a race first to get their wins. The sub numbers, increasing numbers for safety, making props only require 50 mins of fitness, and ballooning to over 150kgs each, the tackle height clamp down hasn't actually clamped down on higher tackles, it's just created a scenario where matches are being thrown for easy red cards, to then have to reduce the impact of a red card lol.

2. A bye product of number 1 really. Sub numbers. Allow for a bench of 5, with 3 to be used as the coach sees fit, and 2 specialist injury replacements. Make all 15 players need to last 80 mins, the likes of Antonio, and other 150kg players would have to slim down or become huge liabilities after 65 mins.

Is this coming from your constant complaint about the Welsh under 20s being undersized?

 

[McTallshort]

I would move the Army v Navy game to Cardiff and get the crowds and enjoyment back.

 

[AlRums]

I would move the Army v Navy game to Cardiff and get the crowds and enjoyment back.

It's the only way they might see decent rugby at the moment.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

1. Enforce the existing laws properly. Don't care too much about what they are but one of the biggest problems in rugby is how arbitrary some of the decision making is. There shouldn't be different "styles" of refereeing.
2. Give the team captain a chance to appeal a decision or force something to be looked at like in tennis. An incorrect call loses the appeal whilst a correct call keeps it.
3. Prevent the common cynical play of players rolling out of tackles / hitting rucks and swinging round them with the aim of taking out the supporting players and blocking access to the ruck. It's way too common, extremely cynical and barely ever punished.
4. Prevent the player on the ground from playing the ball once a ruck has been formed but allow them to still offload after a tackle has been completed from the floor if done immediately.
5. Have a scrum setup timer of 20 seconds.
6. At lineouts, the hooker must be entirely outside the field of play. No more having the tiniest part of their ankles on the line.
7. Immediate yellow card for feigning injury.
8. All players to be required to slap James Lowe when within striking distance

 

[IT157]

1. Enforce the existing laws properly. Don't care too much about what they are but one of the biggest problems in rugby is how arbitrary some of the decision making is. There shouldn't be different "styles" of refereeing.
2. Give the team captain a chance to appeal a decision or force something to be looked at like in tennis. An incorrect call loses the appeal whilst a correct call keeps it.
3. Prevent the common cynical play of players rolling out of tackles / hitting rucks and swinging round them with the aim of taking out the supporting players and blocking access to the ruck. It's way too common, extremely cynical and barely ever punished.
4. Prevent the player on the ground from playing the ball once a ruck has been formed but allow them to still offload after a tackle has been completed from the floor if done immediately.
5. Have a scrum setup timer of 20 seconds.
6. At lineouts, the hooker must be entirely outside the field of play. No more having the tiniest part of their ankles on the line.
7. Immediate yellow card for feigning injury.
8. All players to be required to slap James Lowe when within striking distance

That is an issue in most sports

 

[AlRums]

Get rid of lifting at the lineout, and properly policing the not straight put in at the scrum.

Changed mind about lifting

 

[Ideasguy]

Make a try worth double IN THE SECOND HALF of the match !!

Split the year into four distinct team affiliation parts:
2 months national team only, 6 months club team only, 2 months rest time, 2 month special new Local Gov't Area teams.
Bring in a new system to decide which country team plays which other country team to reduce/remove the brutal thrashings & mismatches: change the format to 4-team divisions only, with a month where have country teams ranked 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, 17-20, 21-24, 25-28, .... playing in separate (tiered) groups, and then these cut-offs change for the other month to 1-6, 7-10, 11-14, 15-18, 19-22, 23-26 cut-offs instead, so that we get all teams playing all the teams around them in the rankings over a 2-month year. There is no need for teams outside the top ten to play in the world cup, as they will be destroyed in every match.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

There is hope.

https://archive.ph/

 

[Ddanno]

There is hope.

https://archive.ph/

Wrong link Sir

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Oops. User incompetence.

Try this.

https://archive.ph/y5sDl

 

[AlRums]

Oops. User incompetence.

Try this.

https://archive.ph/y5sDl

Extremely good articles with very positive ideas and views

 

[Half Pint]

I've got one.
Proposal : A knock-on isn't a knock-on if the ball is on the floor.

It would remove a few scrums and increase the ball in play time

-There was a disallowed try in Eng v Fiji (9th Nov 2025), where the Fijian let go of the ball for a split second while transferring the bal from right to left hand, as he slid over the line. Disallowed at TMO for a minor knock on.
-If you have a small fumble at picking up the ball (e.g. base of a scrum), it should be overlooked to keep the game moving
-If player is tackled and rolls over the top of the ball (I don't mean hiding it, just being carried by momentum), then it should be play on.

Hard to imagine that someone would try to punch the ball forwards while it's on the ground, even if it were legal? Surely a kick is always going to be more effective.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Given the evidence provided to us by recent events, i would remove the 'always illegal' thingie. yesterday.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

if a player is penilised for head contact...then the person who hit their head should go for an HIA, if we're taking ti seriously then we should take it seriously

 

[Vaquer]

Lost me at "disallowed try". Those aren't real.

 

[Half Pint]

Lost me at "disallowed try". Those aren't real.

I mean to say 'a try was scored'. In the days before TMO it would have been a try. It was Rugby Union trying to have its own VAR moment and disallowing things for stupid petty reasons when 80k people who are there can see it's a try. My proposal is just one way to reduce such nonsense.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Each team should be allowed to nominate a player from the other team that they can then freely slap in the face before the game and again for after.