IRB Asks Fans for Views on Law Amendment Trials

Supporters, players, coaches, media and referees to have their say
Five aspects of Law being trialled globally
Social media playing an important role in IRB strategies
The International Rugby Board is asking members of the wider Rugby community to express their views on the Law amendment trials currently underway.
The Game’s global governing body will use its extensive social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as more conventional methods of communication, to reach out to players, coaches, match officials, fans and the media to share their opinions of the five aspects of Law that are currently being trialled in the northern hemisphere and during the November Tests. The amendments will also be trialled in the southern hemisphere from the start of next season.

Participants will be asked to complete a simple online questionnaire to voice their opinions on trials, which include limiting the time that the ball is available at the back of a ruck and the scrum engagement sequence.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY IN EITHER ENGLISH, FRENCH OR SPANISH CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LAW AMENDMENT TRIALS

The consolidated feedback will play a significant role in what is a truly collaborative evaluation and feedback process culminating in recommendations being made by the IRB Rugby Committee to the IRB Council at its May 2014 meeting. Any approved Law changes would then be implemented immediately around the world.

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper tweeted: “We are looking for your feedback on the law amendment trials. Your opinion counts!”

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We are committed to being fully collaborative in obtaining views on the Law amendment trials that are currently underway in the northern hemisphere.”

“Rugby is an inclusive sport and we want to obtain the views of players, match officials, coaches and of course fans at all levels of the Game to see what they like and what they don’t. We want to make the Game as enjoyable to play as possible and this important feedback will be considered by the Laws Review Group and the IRB Rugby Committee.”

Social media is central to the IRB’s strategy of reaching out to more men, women and children around the world to encourage participation and involvement and promote tournaments, strategies and player welfare, anti-doping, training and education programmes.

Last year, more than 3.5 million fans downloaded the award-winning Rugby World Cup app, while the official Rugby World Cup Facebook page has 1.75 million Likes. The IRB also has Twitter and Facebook pages for the likes of the record-breaking HSBC Sevens World Series, Women’s Rugby and the IRB junior tournaments.

Editors Notes:

IRB Council sanctioned the global trials at its annual meeting in May 2012 following an extensive process of consultation and evaluation under the auspices of the Laws Review Group comprising Union technical experts.

The trial commenced at the start of the current domestic season in the northern hemisphere and will kick-off in earnest at the beginning of the start of competition in the next southern hemisphere season (January 2013) with the exception of the 2012 ITM Cup in New Zealand, which was completed recently.

Laws Review Group consists of David Nucifora (ARU), Rob Andrew (RFU), Franco Ascione (FIR), Joel Dumé (FFR), Owen Doyle (IRFU), Rod Hill (NZRU), Stephen Gemmell (SRU), André Watson (SARU), Francisco Rubio (UAR), Joe Lydon (WRU), Joel Jutge (IRB) Graham Mourie (IRB Rugby Committee).