Lions 2025

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   As a now retired referee I refer to the game principle at the start of law 13 “ Players on the ground  in open play”. The game is played only by players on their feet. I would suggest that if players, both attack and defence were penalised for intentionally going to ground yesterday’s incident would be avoided. It seems unfair that the attack may lie all over the play to prevent the defence playing it. Whereas a defender is penalised for being anywhere near the ball,

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Oldman1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List First XV regular Joined: 11 Sep 2019 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 85	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oldman1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 6 hours 28 minutes ago at 17:36
	As a now retired referee I refer to the game principle at the start of law 13 “ Players on the ground in open play”. The game is played only by players on their feet. I would suggest that if players, both attack and defence were penalised for intentionally going to ground yesterday’s incident would be avoided. It seems unfair that the attack may lie all over the play to prevent the defence playing it. Whereas a defender is penalised for being anywhere near the ball,

tigerburnie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List World Cup Winner Joined: 10 Jun 2012 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 4062	Post Options Post Reply Quote tigerburnie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 5 hours 24 minutes ago at 18:40
	Simple fix, go back to "no hands" in a ruck feet only will stop players laying all over or diving over the ruck.

cheshire exile Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List World Cup Winner Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Status: Offline Points: 2668	Post Options Post Reply Quote cheshire exile Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 4 hours 43 minutes ago at 19:21
	In fairness the terms “ruck” and “mall” as us old stagers knew them are obsolete. We now have something called the “breakdown”; the term is apt because any semblance of obeying the laws is out of the window at virtually every “collision”. Players off their feet, taking out players not directly involved, entering from the side and not moving away. Refs could award penalties at every breakdown but the men in check suits would tell them that was making the game less appealing to the elusive new “fans”. No one wants a return to 1963 but the officials are on a hiding to nothing. Edited by cheshire exile - 4 hours 43 minutes ago at 19:21

Camquin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List World Cup Winner Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 12088	Post Options Post Reply Quote Camquin Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 3 hours 31 minutes ago at 20:33
	I agree that the ruck as drawn is as dead as the dodo. And the laws as applied, have little to do with the laws as printed. If you actually penalise players who are offside, then the crocodile ruck goes away, as the nine is always offside.
	Sweeney Delenda Est