25 replies to this topic

[joe elliot]

It's occurred to me that stopping the biff in games is actually harming the game. As people are now following MMA in their droves why are we trying to turn our game into something it is not.
The more the referee's give silly pedantic penalty's and send people off for a bit of fisticuffs the more they are actually turning people off the sport.
If we want our professional athletes to go the way of footballers and start trying to win penalty's then we just carry on as we are. However if we let more go then our players will stay playing the game as men, and not lower themselves to petty acts

Edited by joe elliot, 10 February 2013 - 07:49 PM.

[hindle xiii]

Probably so it doesn't filter down to under 8's who think it's ok to punch someone in the face after they've played the ball.

[terrywebbisgod]

Probably so it doesn't filter down to under 8's who think it's ok to punch someone in the face after they've played the ball.

Which happens anyway!

[Saint Billinge]

The jury is out on this one! Handbag swipes, sly play, thuggery, a bit of biff, where do you draw the line. One 'minor' punch can lead to a mass brawl.

[1976PMJwires]

I'm all for one on one, yes this leads to a few others joining in, that's life....... It's a mans game, it doesn't need the hand baggers running in who don't actually join in, stand there acting, makes me pisssss

[Northern Sol]

Because RL isn't a martial art and nor should it be.

[Odsal Outlaw]

It's occurred to me that stopping the biff in games is actually harming the game. As people are now following MMA in their droves why are we trying to turn our game into something it is not.
The more the referee's give silly pedantic penalty's and send people off for a bit of fisticuffs the more they are actually turning people off the sport.
If we want our professional athletes to go the way of footballers and start trying to win penalty's then we just carry on as we are. However if we let more go then our players will stay playing the game as men, and not lower themselves to petty acts

Agreed, bring back the biff!!!!

[Marauder]

The jury is out on this one! Handbag swipes, sly play, thuggery, a bit of biff, where do you draw the line. One 'minor' punch can lead to a mass brawl.

and look at the state of origin now

[Just to be clear]

It's occurred to me that stopping the biff in games is actually harming the game. As people are now following MMA in their droves why are we trying to turn our game into something it is not.
The more the referee's give silly pedantic penalty's and send people off for a bit of fisticuffs the more they are actually turning people off the sport.

Just to be clear, anyone who specifically gives up rugby league for MMA was never a rugby fan anyway.

If fighting is more important to someone than ball handling, running, kicking, wearing down defences, and actual rugby then it is amazing they ever watched it in the first place.

Fighting is such a small part of our game that in most matches it does happen anyway. But when it does it is nowhere near a standard that will be of interested to fans of boxing or martial arts.

[roughyedspud]

nowt wrong with the odd scrap...but when the decend into actual running battles after every other play the ball and start calling each other out for fights..like these




then thats when it gets silly..

Edited by roughyedspud, 11 February 2013 - 10:29 AM.

[BBR]

Like it or not it is the first thing that will grab the attention of kids watching on tv. There seems to have been a huge reduction in brawls in recent years. The balance is prob about right. Maybe each side cpuld nominate one player for a half time regulared fight ha.

[gingerjon]

Maybe each side cpuld nominate one player for a half time regulared fight ha.

You've seen this year's NHL then?

[gingerjon]

If fighting is more important to someone than ball handling, running, kicking, wearing down defences, and actual rugby then it is amazing they ever watched it in the first place.

This.

If I want to watch fat men hit each other I'll go into Chesham on a Saturday night. I watch rugby for the rugby.

[nec]

The quickest way to cut off the supply of new players is to give parents the impression that the sport they are taking their child to play is one step removed from brawling in the street.

[hindle xiii]

The quickest way to cut off the supply of new players is to give parents the impression that the sport they are taking their child to play is one step removed from brawling in the street.

Saying that, there are some horribly abusive parents around at junior rugby.

[Wolford6]

As a former kids' coach, I can assure you that the last thing that most parents and junior players want to see or experience is bullying and punching.

Quite right too.

[nec]

Saying that, there are some horribly abusive parents around at junior rugby.

This will also put off otherparents

[dhw]

It's occurred to me that stopping the biff in games is actually harming the game. As people are now following MMA in their droves why are we trying to turn our game into something it is not.

If people are genuinely more interested in bare fist boxing than rugby they are following rugby for the wrong reasons.

The more the referee's give silly pedantic penalty's and send people off for a bit of fisticuffs the more they are actually turning people off the sport.

Cleaning up the sport in this way has been partly responsible for the increase in popularity. The same has happned in other sports.

If we want our professional athletes to go the way of footballers and start trying to win penalty's then we just carry on as we are. However if we let more go then our players will stay playing the game as men, and not lower themselves to petty acts

Rugby players already play for penalties and have done for a long time, it is clearly not as prevalent as in football but it has been there for decades.

[brooza]

Don't get me wrong, I love a good punch up at a match, but wouldn't want to see it happen every week

[Walter Ego]

That video of Tonga is disgusting. Particularly at the 2:24 mark with Tonga's 14 swinging at a man that clearly can't hit back.

As a heated physical contest fights are almost guaranteed to break out once in a while and as a fan I must admit I lap it up. However it should always be punished aggressively and clamped down on. As has already been said it's a contact sport not a combat sport and anything that breaks the rules shouldn't be encouraged.