Nigel Owens: Why the new scrum law won’t work

From 1 July, World Rugby will implement a significant change to the scrum law, prohibiting teams from calling a scrum when awarded a free kick.

This alteration has sparked fears among many in the rugby community, including former Test referee Nigel Owens, that it could undermine the traditional scrum.

Potential Impact on the Scrum

Critics argue that the new law might encourage gamesmanship from teams with weaker scrums and fail to achieve its intended goals. Nigel Owens shares this concern.

In his WalesOnline column, he expressed his doubts, stating, “I fear that introducing this new law is simply papering over the cracks of the game’s issues and is more likely to create further problems than solve the existing ones.”

Owens emphasised that rugby is unique because it accommodates players of all shapes and sizes. He pointed out that front-row players like Adam Jones and Ben Tameifuna rely on the scrum to showcase their strength and contribute to their teams.

Removing the scrum’s importance could alienate these players and harm the game’s inclusiveness.

Arguments Against the Change

World Rugby contends that reducing the number of scrums will create more attacking opportunities. However, Owens strongly disagrees.

“When you have a scrum setup, you have 16 players bound in the scrum, so what you have behind you is space. It’s important to be able to keep those 16 players in the scrum for as long as you can because when the ball comes out, there’s space for them to attack,” he wrote.

Without these players in the scrum, Owens fears the game will devolve into repetitive pick-and-go plays.

More Kicking and Less Territory

Owens also believes the change could lead to more kicking during games. Teams might become less inclined to earn territory and possession from scrums, opting instead for strategic kicks.

The set piece currently allows teams to execute strike moves and win penalties, setting up better attacking platforms.

Owens warns, “With this new law, World Rugby is not bringing in something which is not going to deal with the issues that are at play, but it is going to depower the scrum and take away an important part of the game.”

The new law could result in a game more akin to rugby league, with less space on the field. Weaker scrummaging sides might exploit the law by conceding free-kicks deliberately, knowing stronger opponents cannot capitalise on their scrum advantage.

Preserving the Spectacle of Scrums

Scrums can be a source of great excitement for fans, especially when a dominant scrum pushes the opposition back.

Owens illustrated this by saying, “Imagine Wales were playing England in Cardiff, and the Welsh scrum shoved the English pack back a couple of metres for a try. The roof would be blown off the stadium, and that’s how it should be.”

The game must continue to cater to all player types, from agile backs to powerful front rows. Owens concludes that while he hopes to be proven wrong, he doubts the new law will bring positives.

Instead, it might encourage poor scrummaging and lead to the scrum’s eventual disappearance.