World Rugby completely removes the scrum in “groundbreaking” law change
Groundbreaking.
World Rugby have this morning announced one of the most radical law changes in the sport’s history, with scrums set to be entirely removed from the game ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The move, described internally as “groundbreaking”, is understood to have been fast-tracked following growing concerns over competitive balance — particularly when it comes to the sheer dominance of South Africa at scrum time.
A World Rugby spokesperson said the decision was made “in the best interests of the global game”.
“We’ve been monitoring trends closely, and it’s become clear that some teams simply have an unfair advantage when it comes to the scrum,” World Rugby said.
“At this point, it’s less of a contest and more of a scheduled penalty.”
World Rugby added that the change is expected to “open the game up significantly” ahead of the tournament in Australia.
“We want to give every nation a fair opportunity to compete for the World Cup,” they explained.
“And if that means removing the single most dominant weapon in international rugby right now, then so be it.”
The Springboks, who have built much of their recent success around a powerful forward pack, are believed to have been “informally notified” of the proposal.
“We’re aware this may impact certain teams more than others,” World Rugby added.
“But rugby is about evolution. And right now, evolution looks a lot less like eight lads folding a scrum in half.”
Alternative restart options are reportedly being explored, including tap-and-go restarts and a “vibe-based possession system”, though no final decision has been confirmed.
As expected, reaction across the rugby world has been mixed — but if nothing else, it’s certainly given everyone something to talk about.
What do you think — game changer or step too far?*
*April Fool’s! We’re obviously only having a laugh. Send this to a friend and let’s all have a chuckle. There’s enough seriousness in the world right now!
