Tries can no longer be scored in rugby by grounding the ball against a post protector, revealed World Rugby yesterday.
In some cases, World Rugby said, defending teams were lifting or moving the protectors and leaving the posts exposed, increasing the risk of injury.
The issue was highlighted last November when Edinburgh prop Pierre Schoeman lifted the padding around a post on his tryline to prevent Munster from scoring a try against the post. He was reprimanded by the referee for exposing the posts dangerously but not penalised. Some coaches called for sanctions around the rule.
The law change was recommended in March at a player welfare symposium in Paris, and approved by the World Rugby Council at a meeting overnight.
This has led to some fans asking why rugby simply doesn’t ‘adopt NFL posts’
It’s hard to argue that this fundamental change wouldn’t solve the problems the current laws cause.
The radical idea, which has been suggested by a number of supporters, is unlikely to be considered, but should it be?
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Ranked! The 5 worst Premiership signings of the 2019/20 season
Oh dear, oh dear. However much we will them on, sometimes deals just don’t turn out the way we hoped – or anything like it, as these disasters demonstrate.
5. Niki Goneva (Harlequins)
Described by the club as ‘a real coup’ and ‘deadly finisher’ when the winger joined from relegated Newcastle Falcons last summer. However, it appears that the 35-year-old, who has been a prolific try scorer throughout his career, is finally starting to slow down. He didn’t cross the whitewash in his six Premiership outings for Quins this season.
