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Rugby’s Groundhog Day: in 30 years not as much has changed as we think

The printed messages could hardly be clearer. “Help make the game more exciting for players and spectators alike,” booms the editorial. “Simplify the rules to reduce number of stoppages” and “Improve consistency of refereeing standards” are two of many specific proposals from leading players. “Clamp down on crooked feeds by scrum-halves,” urges someone else.

Welcome to the rugby union equivalent of Groundhog Day. Over the weekend, rummaging around in a cupboard, I stumbled across a copy of the Rugby Who’s Who from 30-odd years ago. Brilliantly curated by my good friend and press box colleague Alex Spink, the old-school player opinions he collated should be as contemporary as ancient Greek. Instead sizeable chunks of it read as if they were dictated yesterday.

Imagine digging up a dusty, long-buried time capsule only to discover little has changed. “Allow players to get on with the game. Too many needless stoppages,” complained Pontypridd’s Dale “The Chief” McIntosh. Up in Scotland, Hawick’s scrum-half Greig Oliver also sounded exasperated. “Make the scrum a means of starting the game not a means of spoiling it.”

Or how about this from Wales’s Rob Howley. “Less kicking and more running.” Or this from the England centre Bryan Barley. “Make sure skills are coached in practice rather than concentrate all the time on fitness and game plans.” Or maybe this from Ireland’s Donal Lenihan. “Standardise refereeing interpretations in northern and southern hemisphere.” Ring any bells for anyone?

It just goes to show the game of rugby union has not progressed quite as far as people sometimes perceive. Yes, professionalism has drastically moved the goalposts in terms of remuneration, body shape and fitness but in other respects today’s

Read more on theguardian.com