In attempts to increase safety, SARU recently accepted proposed changes to school scrumming for the under-14, under-15 and under-16 age-groups. The main effect is that the hit on the engage has been eliminated. The term to describe the new form of engaging is “passive engagement”. The referee will in future call Crouch! Bind! Scrum! The frontrows will bind and when “Scrum!” is called, a full scrumming contest will begin once the ball is thrown in. However one pack may only push their opponents one-and-half metres backwards, before the scrumming contest must end.
Five very experienced KZN school coaches were asked to briefly give their opinions about the new regulations. It has to be mentioned up front that each of these coaches holds player safety in the highest regard. This is what they had to say about the new rules:
“The new scrum laws will cause a big change, especially for front rowers as they get older, they will not be used to the intense engage etc and that will hamper young talent being I’d at a young age and coached to higher levels. Also teams will now pick lighter more mobile tight fives as the scrum won’t be such a big contact point…”
“I think it is a setback for pro rugby later but good safety for youngsters”
“Huge setback as I think junior coached will select creatively. Could have limited the risk in a different way”
“Basically as a 1st team or any other team the scrum will no longer be an attacking mechanism”
“Scrum is now no longer really a contested ball at U14 – U16 level so some coaches may opt for more mobile “props” who can offer more in general play. Lighter packs will go for a quick hook and play. 1st phase strikes from a stable scrum base will give teams a great attacking platform. Coaches will probably focus on defending the scrum attack rather than manipulating/disturbing the opp scrum. Scrum options from free kicks will be attractive to most teams. The down side will be that the great “scrumming” props may be overlooked at this level and thus not identified and developed for snr rugby where they will still be needed. The upside is that refs will have less to worry about at scrum time and hopefully the lottery of awarding (guessing) penalties will no longer be an issue.”
SARU’s attempt to try and justify the new scrum laws:
http://www.rugby365.com/article/51600-saru-answers-scrum-queries
@beet:
Is Kretzmann not the Head Coach?
Doesn’t matter though- all that matters is that he’s been appointed Head of Rugby, Gareth Brown as MiC of rugby and Wilkinson and Adam as 1st XV coaches
@HORSEFLY NO.1: I thought Carl Spilhaus is the KES coach???
Will this scrumming law start from from next season. My problen with this, is that most front rowers will work hard to get technique and form right for the engagement. Honestly I watch a lot of SBR like most of us, and I’v hardly seen serious scrum injurys. Most frontrowers will be excited for that first scrum and hit. This new law should start with next years u14’s and they will go up with it, so it will work properly. Leave next years u15 and 16 to continue with the normal scrum
After the departure of Deon Gericke(head of rugby) to St Charles and A.Stewart(waterpolo) to WBHS, Grant Kretzmann(KES 1st XV coach and Provincial polo coach) has been named as the new DHS Head of Rugby!
The great thing about rugby was that it catered for all shapes and sizes.There was a place for everyone. Not so much anymore as we move more towards a league style of play.
As I said in the other thread – boys have been scrumming each other for more than a hundred years all over the world. What are the statistics on catastrophic injuries due to the scrum engagement? Is it more or less likely than being mained in a car accident, being killed by a snake bite or choking to death on a piece of broccoli? Pathetic.