Photo: FileFormer All Blacks and Canterbury coach Steve Hansen believes there is a simple solution to rugby's worrying problem with head knocks - changing what he says are an antiquated set of laws. One recent suggestion came from Lions legends Sir Ian McGeechan, Willie John McBride, Sir Gareth Edwards, Barry John and John Taylor, who wrote a signed letter to World Rugby in early August calling for the sport to ban substitutes. When players don't understand it, when people watching the game don't understand it, when coaches don't understand it, when referees can't be consistent, we've got an issue and we've got to address that issue." The way Hansen believes World Rugby needs to approach that problem is by instilling simplicity into the rulebook, so referees can manage a safe and entertaining game. World Rugby began a trial of five new laws in August, four of them focused on potential player welfare advancements.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 29, 2021 20:15 UTC