The process to change rugby’s laws is outdated, according to World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson, who believes that the Nations Cup can unite the member unions.
This comes after he revealed that one trial failed to be pushed through due to human error and the need for 75% of members to be in favour of change.
Robinson points to the recent introduction of the 20-minute red card, which had its trial extended after World Rugby failed to get sufficient buy-in from the unions to add it to the lawbook permanently.
It’s well documented that the northern hemisphere nations were against the introduction of the 20-minute red card, with Ireland and France issuing statements on the matter when it was adopted by the Six Nations.
The system was built 30 years ago
While Super Rugby has been trialling the tweak for some time now, the northern hemisphere nations insisted that the referee retain the ability to issue a permanent red card, a compromise of sorts.
“The introduction of the 20-minute red card was really frustrating because it took us a lot longer, because some of our friends in the northern hemisphere needed to better understand it,” Robinson said on the Rugby Unity podcast.
Friction between the hemispheres has delayed law tweaks aimed at bettering the game, and the governing body’s chair revealed how one trial was never implemented because of an erroneous press of the button.
The need for a vast majority of unions to buy into alterations to the laws is also the reason why swift changes in the game cannot occur, according to Robinson.
“The system that World Rugby is built upon is from 30 years ago, and we have to think differently about the way we do it,” he said.
“As an example, we need a 75% vote to change any law, and we had a one-stop maul trial that we had been looking at that we put to a vote in November last year, which missed out by one vote, and we found out after the fact that someone pressed the wrong button.
“So we have systems that are just not working to enable the pace that we need to react to as a game, and part of the review process from World Rugby is to reconsider that as well.”
Opportunity to unite the nations
He further explained that if there are to be any other trials in the near future, they will need to be conducted and implemented before the upcoming June-July internationals, which will mark the start of the Nations Cup.
“But that being said, what can we do and we need to do before June-July next year to make sure that our Rugby World Cup in Australia, we don’t look back and say ‘My god, we missed an opportunity there and how stupid do we look as a sport’,” he continued.
“So I have put a lot of pressure on us as a game, both World Rugby and also on the members, to make sure that that happens.
“We had the professional game committee, which is basically the CEOs of all the top 12 unions coming together as a part of one of our subcommittee working groups, and we were talking about this new competition, the Nations Cup, which actually unites the top 12 unions about consistency of product right through to December next year.
“So there is an opportunity for all of those unions to agree on what the product best looks like for the competitions that ultimately own, and they’re playing in and now including Japan and Fiji.
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“Ultimately, there’s a connection now for the first time ever because we had the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship, and then we just had the inbounds and outbounds. Suddenly, all those things are connected and matter for a final in December. So there is, I believe, a huge opportunity now for us to drive some consistent thinking about quality product because that’s going to not only benefit those unions on the field but also commercially outside of Rugby World Cups.
“We are really keen for that group to embrace what is required, particularly by June-July next year, so that we set ourselves up to be as successful as we can be in the Nations Cup but also in the World Cup the following year.”
Robinson also hinted that trials could be conducted during the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season, aimed at cutting out ‘senseless’ stoppages in the game. He also confirmed that outgoing New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson will be tasked with conducting an independent review of the role and influence the TMO has on the game.