Oceania Rugby regional training manager Talemo Waqa says coaches need to adapt and turn the new World Rugby laws to their advantage.
Waqa was part of the Fiji Rugby Union’s referees coaches upskilling workshop in Suva yesterday where they also ran through the few law changes introduced by World Rugby.
The World Rugby Council has introduced some law changes in three areas including off side in front of a kicker, eliminating the crocodile roll and removing the scrum option when a free kick is awarded.
These new laws come into effect from July 1 in all levels of rugby competition.
Waqa said the laws were changed to better ensure the safety of players and may not necessarily impact the style of play of teams such as Fiji.
“I think every good coach will work on not only the opposition, but they also work on the weather and laws. Those are certain things we can’t change; we can’t change the laws and the referees that work under those laws, we can’t change the weather so good coaches will coach according to what’s in front of them,” he said.
“We need to move on in that regard by adhering, work within and make it our own, we have to make sure that it is to our advantage rather than our disadvantage. So, I would leave that to the coaches, but good coaches know that they will work within the confinements of the law.”
He emphasised that laws are changed in the best interest of all players.
“There are only three laws and most of them are simple, just adjustments and edit of the current laws. We do believe that World Rugby makes up these laws because of player welfare issues, for example the neck and body roll is a welfare issue. Majority of the laws that is done are done by the laws committee with the priority of player welfare, the safety of our players, so what we must do is comply with the new laws.”
