Paris (AFP) – Rugby League enters a new era on Sunday with scrums abandoned amidst the coronavirus, plans made to speed up play and cash-conscious French club Catalans Dragons reluctantly ditching budget travel.
Super League kicks off with champions St Helens facing the Dragons and Huddersfield playing Leeds Rhinos.
Scrums, rarely the set-piece physical test of strength which so dominates rugby union, will be scrapped from the 13-a-side code.
It’s chiefly on health grounds after research showed that the “micro-climate” of at least six players in such close proximity numerous times a game increased potential virus transmission.
Scrums in rugby