“Goodbye Caterpillar ruck” – Three law changes for the 2024 Six Nations

In the annals of the game, the fair catch rule, tracing its origins back to the very genesis of written laws in 1846, holds a storied legacy. Once a pivotal element, it has gradually receded into the shadows, its significance occasionally diminished.

In the bygone era, a mark could be asserted from any kick on the field. Gradually, restrictions crept in; certain kicks were exempt, confined only within your own 22 meters. Further modifications emerged, demanding the ball be propelled into your 22 by the opponents, untouched by your own side.

This evolution birthed the infamous box kick, a beloved tactic among scrum-halves, sometimes favoured over passing to the fly-half.

The essence of this change lies in discouraging excessive kicking, a move aimed at reshaping the very fabric of the game.

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The next step on our agenda is to eliminate the problematic "caterpillar ruck" entirely. It has proven to be quite cumbersome and counterproductive.

Our aim is to empower referees to penalize scrum-halves who fail to utilize the ball promptly upon hearing the "Use it" command. Additionally, we propose abolishing the rule that rewards the defense with possession if they manage to hold up a player and establish a maul during the tackle.

We propose implementing a defined limit for penalty advantage, perhaps ranging from three to five rucks. We strongly dislike the current scenario where the attacking team can maintain possession indefinitely within the 22-meter area under the advantage rule, which disrupts the flow of the game and diminishes its momentum.