How has the game changed over the years?

How has the game changed over the years?

Mike Schmid (Director of Rugby, Esher RFC) gives expert video advice on: What is Rugby Union?; How is it different from Rugby League?; When was rugby invented? and more...

The game has changed immensely, probably professionalism has made the biggest change in the game. At the top of their game the athletes are fully professional, and they have been for over 10 years. That has allowed the athletes to get bigger, stronger, faster, and the game has improved with it. The other big change is some of the law changes that have been brought in through the years, from the point allocation for the scoring of tries changing from 3 to 5, to line-up lifting, to a whole host of others which has made the game a bit more of a pure sport and certainly more of an athletic spectacle than it has been in the distant past. It appeals to more people now.