Wigan Warriors - wiganrugbyfans.com • The problem

The problem often lies with the rules themselves and how the interpretation changes over time. The stripping rule would be a good example of this. It used to be that there had to be a definite "stripping motion" from the defender but this has, over time, come to be no more than "hands on the ball" or similar. By definition this makes it harder to be consistent with the adjudication as the refs are having to make judgement calls on intent which is far harder to know with any certainty.

A return to it being the attacker's responsibility to secure the ball unless there is a definite stripping motion would make this rule far easier to officiate. I just think sometimes we make it unnecessarily difficult by constantly changing the interpretation. Obstruction would be another example where the interpretation is constantly changing with no obvious benefits or clarification.