Inside rugby’s law battles: How politics shapes the game

In 2009, when I was coaching Ulster, World Rugby proposed a few sensible law changes that would allow players to execute quick lineout throws. Hardly a radical change. At that time, the coaches of the leading professional teams were invited to vote on whether the new laws should be adopted. To my great bewilderment, I was contacted by the IRFU and instructed to vote against the proposed law change. When I asked why they wanted me to oppose such a small and potentially positive law change, I was told that the north could not have the south bringing in laws that would turn our game into “Rugby League.” READ MORE The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times Below-strength Ulster...