Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar keen to see scrums back during Super League 2021

Packing down was eliminated from the sport when Betfred Super League resumed after lockdown last August.

The change, to play being restarted with a hand-over, was introduced to cut down on the number of ‘close contacts’ during matches.

With the coronavirus pandemic not yet over, the RFL and Super League have confirmed there will be no scrums when the new season begins next month - though they could be reintroduced later in the year.

The main law change for 2021 is the advent of 20-40 kicks, where an attacking team will get the ball back if a kick from their 20-metre area lands in the opposition’s 40.

The 40-20 is an established part of the game, but Agar doesn’t believe “we will see too much of” the new kicking option.

He is, though, a fan of scrums - which have been an integral part of the sport since it was founded in 1895 - and keen to see them reintroduced once Covid restrictions are relaxed.

“I would rather have scrums back,” Agar confirmed.

“I think scrums are part of the fabric of rugby league.”

The days of rival forwards packing down to battle for possession are long gone, with virtually all modern scrums won by the team with the feed, but Agar still feels they have an important purpose.

He stressed: “While we are not striking for the ball, scrums are contested and I know it is few and far between, but you do get an opportunity to get the ball back.

“But I think, more than anything, the way the rules have gone, not having them, has led to some negative tactics.”

Agar admitted Rhinos use those tactics, but he said: “Being able to roll the ball into touch and taking 30 seconds to bring the ball back in from a play-the-ball, I think you can put in a low-risk, not very adventurous kick and get a decent reward from it by getting some wind in your lungs and getting your defence tight for the next two or three plays.

“I think it doesn’t really reward anything from a kick.”

Scrums also take five defenders out of play and Agar believes that presents more attacking opportunities than the new system, which allows sides to regroup after handing over possession.

“If you put a scrum into play, you can have four blokes attacking three on a percentage,” he said.

“You can have five blokes attacking four, you can throw people around, you can be adventurous.

“That is down to coaches, some teams probably don’t attack too much from a scrum, but other teams do, whether that be play one or play two.

“We all split the field now into splits of numbers and if play is in the middle of the field you generally get five defenders one one side and five on another.

“From a scrum you get five defenders on the scrum line, which is a bigger percentage and for me a great opportunity to attack, but also create some momentum early in your sets.

“I would really like scrums back.”

Scrums are still used in Australia, though with some modifications.

Agar said: “If the scrum rule goes to how it is in the NRL, where you can have your choice (of where to pack down), I think that will also throw a bit more unpredictability and more opportunity for us coaches to come up with different plays in different scenarios.”

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