Rugby: New rules for junior secondary schools

New rules have been introduced to try and make games more even in junior secondary schools rugby.

After some heavy losses by sides some common sense guidelines have been introduced to make games more even.

The rules apply from under-15 division two and down.

The rules are:

* Once the points differential hits 40 points that score stands. The losing team then take a free kick anywhere on the halfway for future restarts.

* Take the dominant player off or at least move them to another position. The best player on the right wing is a good incentive for players to improve passing the ball off the left hand.

* Tell the dominant back player he cannot move into the opposition 22. (Penalty offence!) He can keep making the break, but the others have to work hard to get there and finish it off.

* Tell the dominant forward player, who no one can tackle, to go to ground in the tackle (Penalty offence otherwise!) and make the others work to get there and make more metres without him.

* Start the game after a try is scored with a non-contested scrum on the try scoring teams 22. Attackers, losing team, to put in the ball. This gives the dominant attacking team some defensive work and normally increases the time between tries by the dominant team.

* Give the opposition a couple of your dominant players.

The council said all coaches and referees have a responsibility to ensure boys are not subjected to meaningless hidings. The draw convenor cannot eliminate all mismatches.

Please take a role when teams are inappropriately drawn, no matter which grade. Referees are bound by the laws of the game, it may well be winning coaches who need to lead the way with improvisations.

Add a Comment