The introduction of the 50/22 kicking law has been an overwhelmingly positive addition to rugby.
This innovation is an adaption from Rugby League, which encourages players to punt from behind their own side of halfway and bounce the ball into touch inside the opponent’s 22. Rugby now rewards this skilful action with a lineout throw to the attacking team who kicked the ball.
Under the law of unintended consequences, the 50/22 law has breathed new life into the beautiful and almost extinct art of the torpedo punt. Compared to a drop punt, a spiralling “torpedo” has powerful aerodynamic effectiveness that eats up the metres as the rotation …
- April 24, 2022
