The project was revealed by Bernard Laporte in early May during a video interview with Le Figaro. The president of the French Federation and vice-president of World Rugby, had targeted the question of a reduction in the number of substitutes in order to fight against the risks of injury. “Rugby cannot be the same from the 1st to the 80th minute. When we look at the other sports, the players falter in the last 20 minutes. We have so many substitutes that, from the 1st to the 80th minute, it's often the same game. Reducing the number of substitutes is one of the questions we will have to ask ourselves. ” A wish shared by Bill Beaumont, the president of the apex body, during an interview with Le Figaro: "I would also like us to think about changing the number of replacements."
The Telegraph Sport revealed on Sunday that World Rugby took action and is considering a reduction in per game allowed replacements to improve the game and reduce injuries. Eight changes are currently allowed per team. The international body would like to reduce this number to six or even four (Laporte is in favor of what would be a small revolution).
" We try to base all our decisions on evidence rather than on emotions "
Eanna Falvey, medical director of World RugbyWorld Rugby is currently reviewing the results on the impact of substitutions on matches and the injury rate. Interviewed by Telegraph Sport , doctor Eanna Falvey, medical director of World Rugby, explained: “We try to base all our decisions on evidence rather than on emotions. We need good quality information and data to make this type of decision. "We have data from Super Rugby, Premiership, Top 14 and Pro 14. We put it all together to determine the impact of replacements on the pace of play and injury rates."
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A debate to which Eddie Jones, the England team coach, has just contributed by declaring that he wanted the players to be more tired during the matches. “We have to recover from fatigue because we need space. Otherwise, we will end up like the NFL (American football, Editor's note). I support going down to six substitutes. ” Two former English internationals, Brian Moore and Jeremy Guscott, share this vision. Just like Welsh referee Nigel Owens.
A project that goes against that implemented by the LNR. Which, last season, brought the number of changes to twelve, under certain conditions. If the number of substitutes has remained fixed at eight, any player who has left for "tactical reasons" may again enter the game in place of an injured teammate or who has left (even temporarily) for a suspected concussion.
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