So you agree with this rule ?

The RFL have brought many new rules in that i ca remember but this is the only one i disagree with.

The onus should be on the attacking side to stay within the field of play, likewise the rule applies in field, you should be able to drive a guy back 15-20 yards. If there are 3 men in a tackle driving you into touch then your own players should back you up in keeping you out.

What would you suggest this rule brings or takes away from the game ?

But there is also an element of 'negative' play when a full back allows the ball to 'trickle' over the deadball line rather than having any incentive to pick it up and run it out.

Why should the fullback pick the ball up and risk getting tackled and losing it?, the only way the fullback would have to field the ball would be if the rule said that the kicking team got the ball back every time they kicked it dead. This would result in teams kicking it dead every two minutes.

I like the idea of the ball going dead over the line being played where it was kicked, this would change tremendously the game, and bring more bombs/strategic kicking more back into play.

Can someone answer me 1 question though, wasn't there a rule for 20m re-starts that the attacking team could kick for touch, providing the ball landed first in the field of play, and then went to touch, they would get the ball back at the point the ball crossed the line ??

One rule that needs to be changed is the grounding of the ball rule, the only part of your body that should be allowed to ground the ball is your hand.

Not the back of your hand, not your arm, not your chest (that ones laughable) just anywhere on your open hand, it would clear up so many nonsense tries.

i thought you said the back of your HEAD, then

i was struggling with the logistics of that.

or when you play leeds in a grand final you get the 7 tackles just to give you a chance..

I'd like to see ball retension being a crucial factor of try scoring.

1. Scrap the "kop out" on report system and force referees to make a decision there and then, with the help of the VR or touch judge if necessary. Start grading the referees on performances and missed major decisions and punish them (drop them) accordingly. It would be nice to have a VR at each game, even if he's locked in a trailer and we don't get to see the action on a screen.

2. Completely overhaul the disciplinary system to a no-nonsense approach.It was "overhauled" a couple of years ago to make it consistent, yet the current system in place will give you a one match ban, rescinded on appeal. Rate each offence based on seriousness and put a one number ban on it. Not 3-5 games, 5 games, no more, no less. If you're found guilty, you get 5 games.

Group similar offences together and the second time a player is found guilty of an offence in that group, they get an additional 1 match ban (6), then another one (7). The fines should work the same way. Violent offences should carry a very long ban time.

3. Bring back contested scrums. When I was in school, the teacher would always pull me up for an incorrect feed of the scrum, it should be like that at the very top level. An incorrect scrum feed results in a penalty.

4. I realise this one would need a change in sports law, but toughening up on drugs cheats is something that needs to be brought in. A 2 year ban from the sport for recreational drug use. These people are role models and should be punished as so when they mess up. Players who are found to have knowingly taken performance enhancing drugs should be banned from the sport for life, zero tolerance. On a similar note, convicted violent criminals should have their RFL registrations removed for a period of 2 years, or for the duration of their sentence, which ever is longest.

5. Ban players from talking externally about the club on social networking sites without prior approval of the club

dont be silly, we all know the rfl would never ban james graham! no matter what he does!

lol

My rule change would centre around the goal line drop out. It is not an excuse for the defending team to have a 2 minute rest to regroup and set up for the next play. All too often the ref will stop the clock as if it resolves anything.

Set a 15 second limit on the kick, otherwise award a penalty under the sticks. If a player is injured and can't get back behind the line, play around them !!

Always annoys me when the defence throws the ball away, the kicker is never in position to kick, the ball is always missing etc etc

OK maybe I should have been more specific in my wording. Due to the new interpretations the words push, pull and drag are very important to the new rule so let me explain.


I agree with the ruling as it is now. That is that once a player is pulled or dragged by the opposition the referee should call "held" and the tackle is complete. The referee should also call the tackle complete when a defending player raises the leg. Note, this is not automatically a penalty. It only becomes a penalty when the defenders fail to surrender the tackle.

I am fully supporting the case where is a player is driven or pushed backwards or towards touch. However, pulling or dragging a player removes any element of skill to the tackle from the defending team and slows the game down with neither team rightly earning any yards so I do feel it brings something to the game. It does what the RFL and Northern Union have been doing since 1895, thats speeding the game up and making it faster to the spectators.

I cannot think of a good reason why we cannot have contested scrums / penalty for feeding / offside at scrums. It would bring more excitement and variability to the game.

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There's no rule that says you can't contest a scrum, it seems that sides choose not to do it. Feeding always happened, the only difference now is that it isn't penalised. When it was you could have 3 or 4 attempts to restart the game, don't think I would want to go back to that personally.