The IRB have been trialling new law variations during the Super 14 tournament and are set to introduce these into world rugby union later this year.

The first meetings will be held next week with plans to introduce the laws by November. They have made these changes to make the ref’s job easier at the breakdown and to improve the game's watchability by making it flow more and reducing lengthy stoppages following penalties.

As a result most infringements are to be downgraded from penalty offences to free kicks - unless those offences constitute foul play.

'Rugby Union is an imperfect game, and that’s the beauty of it'


Players breaking off a scrum, for example, will now be penalised with a free kick (unless it is repetitive) as it is not deemed as “foul play” (not sure about that one).

In addition to this, there are several areas of play that have been affected by the proposed changes.

At scrums, all non-participating players - except scrum-halves - must be at least five metres behind the No.8's feet, not as now, level with the hindmost foot of the scrum. This, in my mind makes the defensive job of the flank forward almost impossible at a scrum.

At the breakdown, where at the moment one of over 30 infringements could take place, players - so long as they are onside, have entered from the back and are on their feet - can play the ball with their hands. This will turn the ruck into a tug-o-war on the ground and surely a match played in wet conditions would increase the amount of knock-ons.

The rolling maul is a tactic used to great success by New Zealand, England and France and is great to watch. The defending team now have the right to collapse that maul, a strange one this as when I was playing rugby, collapsing a maul was dubbed as “dangerous”, but the IRB have deemed it not so.

Kicking the ball out on the full from inside your 22 will still lead to your line-out where the ball goes out, unless the ball was passed to you from outside the 22. If the ball is passed from outside and you kick it straight into to touch, the opposing side get the put in from where you kicked it.

One of the more thought-provoking changes is the removal of the corner flags. I'm not sure how this got onto the list of “laws we desperately need to look at to improve the game”, but hey.

These rule changes are being proposed to promote a more flowing game and to increase the amount of “ball in hand” during a game. One of Wales’ games during the recent Six Nations boasted 33 minutes of ball in hand during the 80 minutes, and France enjoyed 31 minutes against Ireland - not bad statistics.

A former international referee was quoted on the BBC website as saying: ”Ultimately, we want the game to be easier to play, coach, and referee - and easier for fans to watch.”

But I think the game is fine as it is and the IRB are meddling with rules that they don’t need to. Yes, I will use the old adage “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”.

Rugby union is an imperfect game, and that’s the beauty of it. The more cynical side of me keeps saying it’s a 'stealthy' way of bringing rugby league into the union code.

I think the amount of infringements now will increase as players learn that by committing albeit “minor” offences they will not risk giving away three points even inside their own 22.

I’m sure as more and more news trickles out about the new changes, two distinctly opinionated sides of the fence will emerge. But for now I want to pledge my allegiance to the old side - I do embrace change, but ultimately any change must be for the good of the game.