Today I watched the first half of the Australia v Wales under 19s Rugby League Commonwealth Championship. It had been posted on Facebook. What I saw was something I had campaigned for unsuccessfully for years. Wales scored a try and Australia restarted the game by a tap on the half way line, thus restarting with possession. Just like they do in soccer.

Wasn't that almost the way it worked years ago? If the try was converted, there was a 10 m. (well, yards) k-o as now. But, if unconverted, play restarted with a tap on half-way.

And long may that continue. Why should a team lose possession because they've scored? Alternatively, why should a team gain possession after having conceded points?



Not the best recommendation. They also have "simulation" in football. I don't think our game needs any advice from those grossly overpaid cheats.

I don't know, there's a tournament on at the minute that seems to be doing OK...

And doing OK in spite of the theatrics of most of its participants. I'm not sure what that tells us.

I'm not doubting its attraction or success, but it is the biggest competition in the most popular global sport after all. I have next to no interest in nancyball but even I am tuned to the Beeb with the sound muted.

And I don't believe that you would want to see that sort of blatant diving in RL, which was the point I was making...

We effectively did that not long ago with the scoring team kicking off.
As mentioned I don't see why it needs changing to be honest.

I'd change it at kids and amateur level, but at pro level you should be able to defend a set of 6 starting 90m away from your own try line.

Agree with this. If this was introduced at junior level though, the rewards for conceding a try is getting the ball back - so what's the incentive for kids busting a gut learning line defence when all they want is the ball?

If you want the ball back, you've got to earn it.

At kids level the game isn't about that, they don't learn that kind of mental approach, they're still learning the basic skills and the game should be almost totally about enjoyment.

Exactly, they won't learn the basic skills of defence this way. And junior level is all the way up to U18s.

There's nothing stopping coaches from coaching them the same as before. I can't see any kid at u18 level serious about a playing career being affected by this at all. Losing 6 points by not defending your try line isn't a benefit so they'll still learn that skill. But that's a skill mostly taught and learnt in training anyway.

What that change would help with is games where one side runs away with it and continually scores. All those games do is put kids off the sport.

Personally I see nothing wrong with the ball being turned over to the opposition after a try.

In fact it fits nicely with the rest of the game. The set of 6 has effectively ended with the try. Same as at the end of a knock on, kick, 6th tackle etc.

The set of 6 is completed and the ball is handed over. For kids it's a much better idea as it balances out teams having some turns with the ball and it should be about enjoyment.

But for me it would fit at the pro level too. The try itself is a reward for the work done, why do we double up the benefits? although personally I would just go with a kick off rather than a tap. But I can see the point of a tap for the kids.

The only issue would be for a team chasing the game, currently if your 7 points down with 5 to go, you could still win the game. But if you don't get the ball back after a try, then comebacks will start to fade away.

I largely agree, especially at kids and amateur level at all ages.
I just think at pro level you should be able to defend a set of 6. If you don't then you don't get the ball.

The quote above tells me that you haven't the slightest clue about this years World Cup.

It seems to me that there has been an epidemic of inner ear infections affecting their balance.

If I'm wrong then enlighten me, please.

At pro level the kick off is fine. Whilst the scoring team gets the ball back, they're going to get it deep in their own territory, which gives the conceding team a chance to keep them there and start their next set in a decent position.