They now look at forward passes in RU. Surely we can do the same! They've just done 1 in the Wasp v Quins game and its just a normal angle they don't use any specific technology.

They should have a chip in the balls, have it linked up to a device that the coaches can see on a laptop. Then they are allowed 1 challenge in each half against a decision. It wouldn't cost much and would solve a lot of issues

how would the chip say its forward or not?? how can you guarantee the chip won't be affect in some way when the ball is kicked??

Well the technology would need to engineered so that a kick wouldn't affect it obviously. A chip with sensors in each corner and one above, would tell you the direction it has moved. As Hawkeye does. It would cost but we need to improve the game. Just an idea

You'd also need each player to have a chip as you'd need to know how the ball is passed in relation to the player. The ball can travel forward in relation to the ground but if it's backward in relation to the passing player then that isn't a forward pass. Thats the 'momentum rule' that Stevo harps on about

2 obvious options for me:

a) Watch normally and judge the pass how a ref judges a pass, by the hands not by the floor.

b) Overhead angle (or chipped ball etc), measure the velocity of the ball at the point when the pass starts, and the velocity when released. If the second is higher than the first the the ball has been passed forward. If the forward velocity is less than or equal then the ball has been passed flat/backwards. But this would be wrong with an accelerating player...that could factor in too by mapping acceleration too etc but somehow I doubt people would trust it...



No it isn't, players have nothing to do with it. It's about the ball being passed backwards relative to the velocity it had before passing.

Afraid you're the one who's wrong there. Players have everything to do with it. Just read the RFL definition if you don't believe me.



[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/a_guide_to_the_game/official_laws/10_knockon_and_forward_pass[/url

So a player who passes the ball flat/backwards whilst running, but is tackled when the ball is released passes it forwards, but a player who does the same and isn't tackled did not? Sorry I don't buy it. They've worded it badly (for a change) to explain momentum to idiots, that's my guess.

They should have more than a chip in the balls. They should have a whacking great kick. We are talking about the refs and touch judges aren't we?

I wouldn't bother looking at the hands because that only works if the player is running parallel with the touchline (which is rare). I can tell whether a pass is forward by simply looking at it. If it was borderline I would ignore it but I would be able to call all the blatant ones that the refs miss.

Forward pass rule is always a tough one. Though there are many arguments for or against, I think we should keep it down to a referee decision. Yes they may not always spot it and it can have an influence on a game. But we have got on fine without it so far and though we get annoyed, all teams will have it their way at some point.

Carry on moaning as we are and we will have the VR judging the actual refs decisions. I think we should just get on with it, as annoying as it may be.

Don't know where you got that from, as I see no mention of tackled or not on that page. It talks about the relative positions of the passer and receiver only.

The bit I have issue with is this bit:



The use of "invariably" (i.e. "always"icon_wink.gif for one option, and "rarely" for the other option means that there must be some occasions when a pass is both misjudgement and a deliberate offence! "Usually" or "normally" would be a better choice than "invariably" in that context.