We'll land on Mars before rugby laws change

The game is too complicated for players, referees and the global audience. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Rugby is in safe hands. A panel of World Rugby experts has convened to run a "health-check" on the laws and has promised to adopt any necessary changes by November 2018.

We'll be using cars powered by air by that time and man may have landed on Mars while rugby will dawdle towards some law changes.

World Rugby operates with the handbrake on full because it has to involve all the members and affiliate groups. There is a great deal of caution about any of its decisions.

We know the rules for this year's World Cup - even if we don't understand many of them - and continue to wonder why the same laws produce vastly different refereeing decisions in each hemisphere. We've known the deal for some time so there's no point condemning it.

But we've also known for some time that the laws in rugby need fixing.

That should be a priority for World Rugby instead of it operating a review of the laws which it says will take four years.

World Rugby continues to spout its mantra about the best interests of the game and what's enjoyable for players and spectators. If that chorus had more substance World Rugby would sort out the rules to start a new cycle after this World Cup.

Give them a chance to catch their breath after the tournament, enjoy the Christmas turkey, stilton and port, then start the new laws from next January.

World Rugby has released several pages explaining the process, with details about the emphasis on sorting out the scrum and breakdown and making sure the game is enjoyable, safe and clear for players and spectators at all levels.

Discussions about law reviews were based on a variety of worthy principles with player welfare and especially concussion the number one priority.

You can't disagree with that, but World Rugby should elevate its final idea. It reads: "The game should be as easy to understand as possible for players, coaches, match officials and spectators."

At last, some acknowledgment that the game is too complicated for players, referees and the global audience.

We all know that. So if we accept that rugby's rules need fixing and World Rugby gets a collection of coaches, players, referees and officials from around the globe into a meeting, as it just has, why prolong the process.

Apparently that group is meeting again in September. Bang their heads together and get them to meet again after the World Cup and produce a revised law book then.

Waiting until November 2018 to get through and approve the 11-stage timetable only gives time for rising frustration.