SA Rugby head of amateur referees Deon van Blommestein has explained why the Varsity Cup and Shield will trial a new version of the 50/22 law in 2022.
This year, the Varsity Cup will trial a new variation of the existing 50/22 law. The trial has been approved by World Rugby.
A team in possession that kicks the ball indirectly into touch from inside their own half will receive a free kick 15 metres in from touch. That team may not take a scrum or lineout; it must take a tap kick. If that team scores from there, the try value will be seven points.
There is no requirement for a set phase inside a team’s own half. A team may carry the ball back and kick it indirectly into touch inside the opposition’s 22. If a team scores from the tap, it gets an additional two points for that try (point-of-origin try).
“We want to lift the tempo of the game and create more space on the field of play,” Van Blommestein told the Varsity Cup website.
“Defending teams have to leave two men in the backfield to cover the 50/22 kick. That results in two fewer defending players in the frontline, and thus more space to attack. With this version of the 50/22 law, the attacking team doesn’t have to wait until they have a set piece in their own half before they attempt a 50/22 kick.
“The fact that the attacking team can pass back into their own half before attempting that kick means that the defending team has very little time to adapt. After the kick rolls into touch, the attacking team will have the option of tapping quickly [if they regather the ball first] while the defence is still scrambling back.
“There’s no hanging around for a lineout; the attacking team can go right away. There’s an added incentive for the team that scores from that position, namely seven points for a point-of-origin try [a try-scoring movement that originates in the attacking team’s own half].
“We’ve already noted the impact in the training games,” Van Blommestein added. “The response from the coaches and players has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re already finding ways to use it to their advantage.”
The 2022 season of the Varsity Cup will kick off on 14 February with a fixture between the NWU Eagles and UCT Ikeys.
Photo: Catherine Kotze/SASPA
