The new rules for rugby

With no scrums or tackles, is it even rugby?

Can you imagine rugby without scrums, tackles and mauls? Well, that is the plan of England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU), to increase the odds of the game returning after lockdown has ended, according to an article by The Telegraph.

REDUCING THE LEVEL OF CONTACT

Because of social distancing measures, many countries are allowing the return of non-contact sports only, such as cricket and golf. As a result, the RFU is apparently working on several variations to the game to reduce the level of contact. This is meant to encourage players to return to their clubs next season if full contact is still not allowed post-lockdown.

The union is considering social-distancing training, forms of competitive touch rugby and a shortened version of the game, similar to X-rugby, which is played on a half-pitch with reduced intensity contact, says The Telegraph. 

Given that scrummaging, tackling and mauling are the most intense part of the game (and where the majority of the contact occurs), the RFU foresees that these will be the last aspects of rugby that will be allowed to return.

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