GRMR3 - Fall 2024

This ‘n That Summer Rugby 2024

GRMR3

A lot a lot has been going on in the rugby world recently: from the July Tests, where Ireland pulled off an extraordinary win over the number one ranked XV on the planet at Kings Park, Durban; to the Olympic 7s at Stade de France, where USA Women claimed the bronze medal in as dramatic a fashion as you’re like to see; to the start of the Rugby Championship, where both road warriors stunned their hosts, one maybe moreso than t’other in Round 1, then things went as expected R2; and lastly but certainly not leastly to USA, where Free Jacks number 10, Taranaki-product and player of the championship final Jayson Potroz, went 5-from-5 on threepointers, missing only the conversion of Le Roux Malan’s touch down en route to 20 – 11 victory and the Jacks second MLR title in a row; Ciarán Frawley, replacement standoff for Ireland, came off the bench to slot a brace of dropped goals to edge host South Africa at Kings Park, 25 - 24, alongside the Indian Ocean in Durban. Precision 8-from-8 sticksplitting

by SA 10, Handre Pollard, made the ‘Boks numbers; homeboys held a 2-point, 18-16, advantage at ‘57; visitors starting flyhalf, Jack Crowley, put Ireland back in front on a penalty conversion, 19-18, about the hour mark, then Pollard popped a pair true the sticks to regain the lead ,24-19, by the 65th, but Frawley’s heroics made a wellearned, happy ending for travelers.

USA Women 7s claimed Olympic hardware at the death in the bronze medal match over the formidable, 2016 gold medalist, Australia Women 7s: • Aussie went up first on a nifty switch that brought Maddison Levi on a cutter back inside 20 meters to goal for a 7-0 advantage early; • USA returned when Alev Kelter stepped off her left foot, breaking past a pair of defenders to touch down and with her own conversion, drawn scores and lucky 7s for the house at the break; • Australia again took the lead after a quickly-tapped penalty 25 meters out from USA paint had Maddison Levi free on the edge near touch; a fend, flashy scoot and grounding by the Aussie talisman put greenand-gold back on top, 12-7, with a bit less than 90 seconds remaining in the match; • with time running fast and USA inside their own 22, possession at breakdown maintained and ball swung to Alex Sedrick in the midfield; the center looked to be contained initially before bursting out of tackle, then past two more defenders, and into the open for a 95+ meter blaze-to-goal for her own conversion and the medal, 14 – 12, USA; • Canada lost in the final to New Zealand, and placed second on the podium, making 2-from-3 North American 7s medals.

A brace of second stanza penalties struck truly from the boot of McKenzie Hawkins made for an 11 – 8 victory by the USA Eagles, and provided for a successful tour past host, Japan; next up for the (currently 9th-ranked Eagles Women’s XV will be a Test v World Rugby’s #1, England, at the end of September;

In consideration of Men’s 7s Coach Friday’s replacement, the powers that be at USA Rugby must be thinking about former Vail and Highlander RFCs head coach, Steve Lewis. A critically constructive rugby mind, but foremost a motivator of players with an ability to inspire well beyond the sum of parts, as he did in 2018 with Bulldog 7s, a side comprised of college prominents. Lewis took his side to the 2018 National Men’s Clubside 7s championship match where the group topped Belmont Shore 19-7 at the final whistle for the national crown.

South Africa demonstrated why they’re sitting atop world rugby right now in two defeats of Australia on the trot, topping their hosts 33 – 7 on the east coast at Brisbane, and 30 – 12 out west in Perth; while New Zealand suffered an opening round loss to Argentina Los Pumas at Wellington, 30 – 38, in an important win for the South Americans, then ABs got their own back at Eden Park, trouncing the visitors 42 – 10;

Dear USA Rugby Community, Later this week, registration will open for the 2024-25 Membership year, which officially begins September 1, 2024. Earlier this year, World Rugby (WR) announced some Law changes applying to competitions globally starting from July 1, 2024. These changes will take effect in the USA starting September 1, 2024, in all matches of community rugby at all levels that are part of the 2024-25 Membership year. As previously announced to all members in April, lowered tackle height will also take effect at the same time, following a successful trial in the spring friendlies in Midwest Senior Club competitions.

Pre-season matches, friendlies, or competitions that start in August should apply these new laws immediately.

A video resource regarding tackle height have been sent to all coaches and referees. In addition, a referee webinar discussing the following changes and the Game Management Guidelines for the 2024-25 season will be held on Tuesday August 13, and will be available to all USA Rugby members on the USA Rugby Learning Center from Wednesday August 14.

CHANGES FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON •

Tackles above the base of the sternum are liable to penalty, and ball carriers must not lead with their head into a tackler. The wording of the new Law specifically refers to players ‘running in open field play’, which is designed to exclude ‘pick and drive’ scenarios around the ruck and maul, and especially play around the try line where the ball-carrier’s height is usually low by design. Collisions in these aspects of the game are not at high speed and are rarely dangerous, so the new Law will not apply.

A one-page guideline with the law text, details, and diagrams can be found HERE. PLEASE NOTE: Except in extreme examples of repeated infringement, there should be no increase in yellow or red cards from this change. This change adjusts the line of a ‘high tackle’ Penalty Kick from the line of the shoulders down to the base of the sternum. Where there is head or neck contact, in any scenario, use of World Rugby’s existing Head Contact Process to determine penalty kick, yellow card, or red card sanctions still applies and has not changed.

•

On kicks, players of the kicking team ahead of the kicker may not loiter, but must actively retreat until onside, even if they are more than 10 meters from where the ball is expected to land. Additionally, players are NOT put onside by an opponent running 5 meters with the ball, or passing the ball. This is a significant change; teams should ensure that all players understand it.

•

The so-called "gator" or “crocodile" roll, where a player uses their own body weight to laterally roll/twist/pull a jackler to ground, is considered dangerous play. A player may still be levered out of the contest or driven back - but not pulled forward.

•

When awarded a free kick, a team may NOT opt for a scrummage.

The information from World Rugby explaining the changes can be found HERE and the exact text of the laws can be found HERE. The new Game Management Guidelines for the 2024-25 season can be found HERE. WR has also released the following Clarifications this year: •

At scrummage, some hookers have used a “semi/half brake foot”. The brake foot must be in position to serve as a brake taking pressure off the head and necks of the front row until the call of “set”. See further info HERE.

•

On conversion kicks, once a kicker is “finally settled”, that indicates to everyone that the next time the player steps, or lifts a foot off the ground to step, that will be the start of their “approach to kick” as per law 8.14. See further info HERE.

Back Pages Daktari’s Cypher "S KJJF GSA IZ EOKKSKW DIYU NK I ROSYU ZNQQ, 37 ZNQQ ZN ZGJ CJXZ. GJ’Q WNZ PGJJCQ. GJ FJICQ, GJ XICCQ, GJ QVSCCQ PGJK GJ WSBJQ ZN GSQ GNASJ, IKF GJ WJZQ XSBJ ZN QZIL ICSBJ. QN ZGIZ’Q XSBJ VNSKZQ. KNP ZGJL WENNBSKW,” QKNNV FNWW NK IKZNSKJ FOVNKZ And here is your hint: S = I;

solution on the blogsite

MASTER SCHEDULE – Fall ‘24