New Rules OK?

New Rules OK?

One advantage of daily games on TV and several in far-flung rugby outposts of this wide sunburnt land, is that more people are being converted to "The Game They Play In Heaven" (think of it as a religious experience).

This however results in questions being asked about the rules. Now if you put two rugby players in a room and asked them to agree on the rules, the only thing they could confirm was that the ref got it wrong and it was our throw-in.

Rugby is a complex game with a few nuances I have not mastered, but now I'm more confused. Has there been a rule change for the World Cup I haven't heard about? A few rules - about kicks in goal and chasing kicks, as well as half back interference in the scrum - escape me.

Now admittedly maybe the rules changed this season, and since I was then living in Japan we lost in translation, but I asked local experts ( the guys at the bar of my local rugby club) and they didn't know either.

What's going on? The news coverage has said nothing and commentators are silent. Is there a secret agreement between teams and the officials we don't know about? Would someone please explain? It's hard enough telling Gridiron and Aussie Rules fans why you can only pass backwards without having to make up new laws.

Mardo Gray, for 2K Plus International Sports Media


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