Former referee boss for the IRFU Owen Doyle has taken aim at the law trials in one particular area and has urged World Rugby to address the matter.
The governing body has introduced amendments to the lineout since the start of 2025, including a shot clock and allowing play to continue if a not straight throw fails to be contested by the defending team.
If the opponent goes up and it’s not straight, then the previous law applies, but the new idea is designed to keep the game moving when there is no contest.
More mauling
World Rugby also possibly hoped that it would bring about more creative attacks off the top of the lineout, but Doyle does not believe that it has had the desired effect.
In fact, the former Test referee believes that mauling has become even more prevalent since the changes and has called on the bigwigs to take action.
“The current global trial for the lineout is showing serious cracks, a fact which backs up the necessity of adhering to the trialling process,” Doyle wrote in his Irish Times column.
“Here’s the problem with the lineout. The team throwing in the ball drops several men out of the lineout as the ball is thrown. This is contrary to law but, apparently, nobody cares.
“These players then drive on their catcher as he lands on the ground. It creates more mauling, instead of fast ball ‘off the top’ going quickly to the scrum-half, who then releases the backs.
“It is not too late for this trial to be voted down, to ensure that the lineout is a structured contest for possession – which is what it’s supposed to be – and that is enshrined in the charter of the game.”
Shot clock issues
Doyle then moved on to the shot clock, which was introduced in order to speed up the game, but it is effectively at the referee’s discretion.
As ever, when it is open to interpretation, sometimes it is not enforced properly, especially when the officials have plenty of other things to manage, but Doyle wants them to be stricter with that law.
“Furthermore, while players are given a maximum of 30 seconds to form a lineout, it’s not compulsory. In fact, teams are supposed to line up without delay, rather than slow-walking into position,” he added.
“It’s a very easy fix with no law-change required, just referees who are determined to keep things moving.”
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