Australian John Singleton has outlined five law changes he believes would revolutionise the game and attract more fans.
In a column for the Sydney Morning Herald, the 78-year-old advertising mogul proposed five radical changes that could well change the way the game of rugby (union) is played, while simultaneously enhancing the sport’s popularity.
Here are Singleton’s suggestions:
- One point for a penalty goal but three points for a goal kicked as a result of a penalty for foul play.
- Conversions and drop goals should be worth two points and a try seven points.
- Only nine technical reasons why penalties can be awarded for breaches of scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls, thus eliminating all those archaic rules produced by lawyers who like to sit around and debate how many angels can sit on the point of a pin.
- Kicking out on the full in general play would be outlawed.
- A team could have only five phases of the ball to gain ground. If not, it sacrifices possession. If it makes ‘forward progress’, it holds the ball indefinitely.
Further more, he also questioned the naming of Vodacom Super Rugby teams without any reference to their geography.
‘Are the Lions, Bulls, Highlanders and Chiefs, South African or New Zealand teams?’ he asked. ‘If you are watching the Stormers versus the Hurricanes, will it be on shown on a weather map?’
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