Law trials and changes

[taniwharugby]

I can understand if individuals were using it for marketing which may 'undermine' a sponsor, but most of them seem to have something on there which means something to them, and I know Rene Ranger has smiley face, which I guess is offensive to someone somewhere?

[Snowy]

@taniwharugby said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I can understand if individuals were using it for marketing which may 'undermine' a sponsor,

Just look at the fuss over SBW using a blank bit of tape.

@taniwharugby said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I guess is offensive to someone somewhere?

Here you go:

https://qz.com/944693/chinese-people-mean-something-very-different-when-they-send-you-a-smiley-emoji/

"China is a case in point. The country is known for generating creative, peculiar internet memes—ones sometimes deployed to subtly mock authorities. People there have also developed a system for using emoji subversively, so that a smiley face can actually convey contempt."

[Rapido]

Smiley faces are offensive to curmudgeons like me. So yes, they are offensive.

[Snowy]

We seem to be getting a little off topic and not really an emoji:

Shiba

"On the surface: It’s a dog breed from Japan.
Below the surface: “I am just cute and innocent. What are you talking about? I have no idea.” (Also: “I despise you.”)"

To return to topic. I might have a Shiba on my wrist bands next time I am playing international rugby.

[Stargazer]

http://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/938423427064586240

.

Making rugby's laws easier to understand for all is the objective behind the simplified law book, which will be introduced globally from 1 January, 2018. 

Approved at the November World Rugby Council meeting, the simplified law book is designed to make the laws easier to understand while not altering the meaning of them or how the game is played.

The book is the product of nearly two years’ work by a specially constituted group of experts and follows a comprehensive consultation and feedback process with World Rugby’s 121 member unions and all six regional associations. The eight-person group includes law experts, referees, a club coach, a sports scientist as well as a web designer/illustrator.

The result is a law book that is more logically laid out, clearer in its explanations and, with various repetitions and contradictions removed, 42 per cent shorter than the current version.

Law Simplification Group: Mark Harrington (World Rugby Head of Technical Services and club head coach), Tappe Henning (Scottish Rugby Union Referee Manager and former international referee), Dr Ross Tucker (sports scientist), Rod Hill (New Zealand Rugby Referee Manager), Chris Cuthbertson (Chairman RFU Laws Committee), James Fitzgerald (World Rugby Media Manager and former international referee), Adam Pearson (web designer/illustrator).

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer surely in the 'Law Simplification Group' having a few ex-players, probably recently retired ones in the group would have been a great help

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Yes, looks like a missed opportunity.

[antipodean]

I didn't think the laws were that difficult to understand. I'm wary of this simplification effort unless they're removing laws.

[TeWaio]

[Crucial]

A welcome project (even if it is a bit late for SBW)

Sounds like they have attempted to fix my biggest bug bear which is working out what section to look in for the relevant law. The present version is a mess.

My concern though is that simplification of the written law may lead to increased room for 'interpretation'.

Hopefully alongside the actual Law Book there is clear guidance on how to interpret each law as a transparent means of understanding rather that the secretive 'referee guideline edicts' that leave punters confused.

[Billy Tell]

@stargazer said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

Law Simplification Group: Mark Harrington (World Rugby Head of Technical Services and club head coach), Tappe Henning (Scottish Rugby Union Referee Manager and former international referee), Dr Ross Tucker (sports scientist), Rod Hill (New Zealand Rugby Referee Manager), Chris Cuthbertson (Chairman RFU Laws Committee), James Fitzgerald (World Rugby Media Manager and former international referee), Adam Pearson (web designer/illustrator).

Tappe Henning? Why didn't they go the whole hog and include Stuart Dickinson, Derek Bevan and Jim Fleming while they were at it...

[Crucial]

@billy-tell said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

@stargazer said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

Law Simplification Group: Mark Harrington (World Rugby Head of Technical Services and club head coach), Tappe Henning (Scottish Rugby Union Referee Manager and former international referee), Dr Ross Tucker (sports scientist), Rod Hill (New Zealand Rugby Referee Manager), Chris Cuthbertson (Chairman RFU Laws Committee), James Fitzgerald (World Rugby Media Manager and former international referee), Adam Pearson (web designer/illustrator).

Tappe Henning? Why didn't they go the whole hog and include Stuart Dickinson, Derek Bevan and Jim Fleming while they were at it...

Mind you they could have done worse.

George Ayoub.

[Damo]

I am cautiously optimistic. Hopefully they tidy up all the inconsistent language and make it easier to follow.

I'm not that impressed that they are releasing it on 1 January and it will be effective immediately. WR are saying that it does not alter the laws at all, but I don't believe it is possible to rewrite a lawbook without altering the laws slightly - even if unintentionally.

A better approach would have been to release it a month before it becomes official, to give all the refs a chance to get to grips with it.

[booboo]

@damo said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I am cautiously optimistic. Hopefully they tidy up all the inconsistent language and make it easier to follow.

I'm not that impressed that they are releasing it on 1 January and it will be effective immediately. WR are saying that it does not alter the laws at all, but I don't believe it is possible to rewrite a lawbook without altering the laws slightly - even if unintentionally.

A better approach would have been to release it a month before it becomes official, to give all the refs a chance to get to grips with it.

And coaches, and players

[antipodean]

@damo said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I'm not that impressed that they are releasing it on 1 January and it will be effective immediately. WR are saying that it does not alter the laws at all, but I don't believe it is possible to rewrite a lawbook without altering the laws slightly - even if unintentionally.

The reason the law book is like it is, is because of the requirement to provide clarity.

[nzzp]

@antipodean said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

@damo said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I'm not that impressed that they are releasing it on 1 January and it will be effective immediately. WR are saying that it does not alter the laws at all, but I don't believe it is possible to rewrite a lawbook without altering the laws slightly - even if unintentionally.

The reason the law book is like it is, is because of the requirement to provide clarity.

The laws as written, and the laws as refereed are totally different. Woudl be good to write them the way they are meant to be played.

[antipodean]

@nzzp said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

@antipodean said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

@damo said in Law trials and changes set for 2017 and beyond:

I'm not that impressed that they are releasing it on 1 January and it will be effective immediately. WR are saying that it does not alter the laws at all, but I don't believe it is possible to rewrite a lawbook without altering the laws slightly - even if unintentionally.

The reason the law book is like it is, is because of the requirement to provide clarity.

The laws as written, and the laws as refereed are totally different. Woudl be good to write them the way they are meant to be played.

Agreed. Guarantee they aren't and down the track there will be "clarifications" promulgated.

[Stargazer]

World Rugby has launched the simplified law book yesterday (2 January 2018).

You can find it here: http://laws.worldrugby.org/index.php?&language=EN

Media release: https://www.worldrugby.org/news/303487?lang=en

[Crucial]

Don't know about being simplified. More like laid out better with tables and pictures to make it easier to follow. The legalese is still there along with the big gaps for interpretation but overall it is a big improvement on the previous versions.
A good example is the ruling on a late tackle on a kicker. Rather than a long wordy and messy explanation there is a diagram showing where the resulting penalty can be taken. In fact it highlighted a ruling I wasn't aware of which was that if the kick goes dead in goal you get a 5 metre penalty out of it

[Stargazer]

This was published overnight (29/3/2018):

World Rugby response to the request to lower the tackle height

World Rugby welcomes the outcomes of the PRISP report and the associated action plan calling for the height of the tackle to be changed. This call reinforces World Rugby’s evidence-based move in January 2017 to lower the tackle height using increased on and off field sanctions.

This research confirmed that 76 per cent of HIA incidents occur in the tackle, with the tackler at greatest risk, experiencing 72 per cent of these tackle injuries. The research also confirmed that the risk of head injury to the tackler was 4.3 times greater if the contact was high (eg head to head or head to shoulder), even during legal tackles, and 1.4 times greater if the tackler was not bent at the waist at the moment of tackle impact, demonstrating the importance of correct tackle technique. 

Targeting protection of the tackler, the multidisciplinary group considered a range of possible approaches, including lowering the height of a legal tackle in law, but identified increased sanctions as the most immediate and effective way to impact on tackle height and tackler body position. The objective of increased sanctions was to change behaviour of the tackler (the most ‘at risk’ player for head injury) by encouraging bending at the waist and lowering the height of the tackle.

The success of an increased sanction focus is reliant upon sanction compliance across all tournaments, and World Rugby has been monitoring the sanction levels within the elite game comparing 2016 (pre-implementation period) to 2017 (post implementation period).

Recently completed monitoring analysis confirms the strength of the approach and reinforces the importance of sanction severity frequency (cards) in changing behaviour. Penalty sanctions for high tackles were increased by 64 per cent worldwide in 2017 compared to 2016. High tackle yellow cards increased by an average of 41 per cent globally after the directive, but with noted variation between tournaments, including a 36 percent decrease in yellow cards issued for high tackles in the Aviva Premiership. 

This trend in England requires further investigation, as recommended within the PRISP report, and World Rugby welcomes the invitation from the PRISP group to work collaboratively and investigate the relationship between non-compliance of the high tackle directive and concussion rates within their game.

The strategy to reduce head contact is not only being addressed through increased sanctions but is also being combined with an evidence-based approach to tackle technique best practice. Collaboration between elite defence coaches and World Rugby at a dedicated workshop in November 2017 has identified key actions and focus areas, which World Rugby is currently exploring. At community level, World Rugby is rolling-out the Active8 warm-up programme, which research demonstrates may reduce the risk of concussion by up to 60 per cent.

If you're interested, here are the PRISP report and the response of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby (PRL) and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) in England.

https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/979416388916846592