EXACTLY 110 years after the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) was founded on an Irish initiative, the board is to move its headquarters from Bristol to Dublin. The move has been expected for some time.
In making the announcement confirming the move, Bernard Lapasset (France) the current chairman, said: "As the governing body of a major world sport we have a responsibility to the millions of participants in our 70 plus member unions to be as effective as possible. The relocation of the board to Dublin will greatly assist us in meeting our responsibility to manage all aspects of the game worldwide, including Rugby World Cup.
One of the benefits of moving to Dublin, as I understand it, is for tax purposes. Also, the company set up to run the European Cup (ERC Ltd) is based in Dublin.
The board was originally formed after a dispute between Scotland and England, and it was proposed at an IRFU meeting in December, 1885, by W J Moore that an International Board would be very useful for settling such disputes. Scotland and England agreed, and the board was established following a conference in Dublin in February, 1886. It has since been the governing body for the game worldwide.
Meanwhile, the board, which has been in session in London this week, has confirmed that players moving to another union must reside in that jurisdiction 180 days before that national domestic competition begins.
The board has also sanctioned several changes to the laws designed to make the game more attractive. The changes will be experimental initially, and will not be formally approved until the board's annual meeting in 1998. That would allow the game to be played under the new laws for another full season before the World Cup in 1999.
Some important changes in law will therefore operate from the start of next season. In that regard, the change in law 20 (the scrum) could lead to more open play. The recommendation is that a scrum is to be formed by eight players from each team. The players' must remain bound to the scrum until it ends. Half backs will certainly welcome that change, as it will relieve the pressure on them from back row forwards.
Law 23 (Line out): An attempt is being made to clarify what is and is not acceptable with regard to supporting the jumper. "This support can be given once the ball has been thrown in and the player has commenced his jump. The jumper can use either or both hands to catch or deflect the ball, provided he has both hands above his head." So either the inside or outside arm can bemused.
Law 18 (Tackle): Here the obligation for the tackled player to get to his feet or to move away from the ball has been extended to the tackler or tacklers. This should allow the ball to be more readily available.
Law 16 (Fair catch): The recommendation is that the obligation for the defender to have at least one foot on the ground to make a fair catch has been deleted. This will give the defender an equal chance to compete for the ball.
The council has also agreed to numerous changes for clarity and consistency, including a re write of law 4 - Players Dress. The law changes take effect at the start of the next season in each hemisphere (that is, almost immediately in the Southern Hemisphere).
Vernon Pugh (Wales) has been elected chairman of the board and Rob Fisher (New Zealand) vice chairman. The old system of appointing a chairman each season on rotation has been abandoned in favour of an election.
Tom Kiernan, one of Ireland's two representatives on the board - Syd Millar is the other - has been elected honorary treasurer in succession to Fred McLeod (Scotland).
It has also been agreed that the IRFB will hold a conference to discuss such topics as the game today, future developments and the means to achieve change. Each union has been invited to send a delegation, to include administrators, technical personnel, players and referees. The conference is in England from March 4th-6th. The 1997 conference will be in New Zealand.
Following speculation about the future of tours by the Lions and individual countries, there was unreserved support for the continuation of the tours. But it was stated that the length of tours may be reduced, with unions given the flexibility to determine the number of matches to be played. There was also encouragement given for deviations to developing nations and shared tours.
The 1998 Women's World Cup will be held in the Netherlands, while 17 unions will compete in the Students World Cup in South Africa next June and July. The Commonwealth games in Malaysia in 1998 will include a rugby sevens competition.
Vernon Pugh will attend a meeting of the International Olympic Committee executive board with the International Summer Sports Federation in Lausanne in March. A new chief, executive will be appointed to the IRFB, as Keith Rowlands, who has been secretary for the past eight years, retires next month. The position of secretary is being replaced by a chief executive.
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