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POPULAR WELSH REFEREE NIGEL OWENS HAS BACKED A NEW RUGBY LAW TO HELP SOLVE ONE OF RUGBY’S MOST FRUSTRATING PROBLEMS THAT ANNOYS FANS ACROSS THE WORLD The new law, which will be used in
Australia, states: > When an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal > or knocks the ball on play restarts with a goal-line drop-out. The > drop-out is taken
anywhere on or behind the defending team’s > goal-line. It must be taken without delay and must pass the > goal-line and go more than 5 metres. The defence must be back > 5-metre
and an opponent must not charge over the 5-metre line before > the ball is kicked. If the ball crosses the 5-metre line but the > bounces back play continues.’ “As things stand, in
each of those cases [knocks on and balls held up over the line] we currently have a five-metre scrum,” WROTE OWENS IN HIS COLUMN FOR THE WALES ONLINE. “But that can penalise the defending
team, whether they have the put in or not, if the other side are superior in the set-piece. Believe me, when under pressure near your own try line, the last thing you want is to have to deal
with a scrum against a side who have the edge in that department. EDITORS PICKS: “The mistake, remember, was by the team going forward who knocked the ball on in the first place. “A dropout
from your own goal line is something completely different in the game and while I was not a fan at first of the proposed change from a scrum if you are held up over the goal line, the more
I think about it, the more I’m beginning to see the advantages and feel it will be good for the game.” ------------------------- JOIN THE RUCK ------------------------- LIST | 5 PLAYERS FROM
ABROAD WHO COULD BE CAPPED BY ENGLAND IN THE FUTURE THESE FIVE HAVE SHOWN ENOUGH ABILITY OR PROMISE TO SUGGEST THEY MAY BE FUTURE ENGLAND STARS IN WAITING. Foreign-born stars, such as
Nathan Hughes and the Vunipola brothers, have already shown how integral they can be for the Red Rose after making the step up to International rugby. HERE ARE FIVE PLAYERS WHO COULD PULL ON
THE WHITE JERSEY IN THE FUTURE: 1. RUAN ACKERMANN – GLOUCESTER (SOUTH AFRICA) His Dad Johan Ackermann, who departed as Gloucester boss for Japan earlier this month, confirmed that his son
will be staying with the Cherry & Whites to persue international honours, and has already been in contact with Eddie Jones. The imposing number eight qualify for England on residency
grounds in August 2020 — just four months before World Rugby’s new eligibility laws kick in. CONTINUES ON PAGE 2 -------------------------