World Rugby’s kick-chase law change a potential recipe for chaos - Paul Lewis

THREE KEY FACTS World Rugby have tweaked laws that govern how defending teams of high kicks can be penalised. The old law said a defender would be penalised for changing their line to obstruct chasers. The new law states that if defenders do not take evasive action from chasers they can be penalised.

Paul Lewis is a veteran sports journalist who has written four books and covered Rugby World Cups, America’s Cups, Olympic and Commonwealth Games and more. OPINION It’s not yet clear but it seems the new rugby law banning defenders protecting the recipient of a high kick – the so-called “escort” tactic – is what many rugby folk say it is: a change that won’t stay in its current form..