Watch: Calls to end ‘Dupont Law’

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The thrilling opening round of the Six Nations exposed a kink in rugby’s lawbook which encourages kicking tennis between two teams, first exploited by Antoine Dupont.

During a review of the first round of the Six Nations on RTE Sport, former Ireland hooker-turned-pundit Bernard Jackman identified how an issue in the current laws is stifling the game.

Taking a segment from the match between Scotland and Wales, Jackman broke down what he referred to as the “Dupont Law”, a loophole in the offsides law which effectively allows players to pause the match.

“There hasn’t been a change in the laws but it’s called the Dupont law because a year-and-a-half ago Antoine Dupont, the French captain, went to the referee before the match,” Jackman explained.

“He explained that on kick-tennis battles, they don’t actually have to retreat, they don’t have to be put onside, as long as they stay static. If the catcher of the ball runs five metres or throws a pass, then they’re onside.

“It’s something the lawmakers are going to have to change.

“The reason you kick back and forth is to tire out the front five…this is not a mark, yet it creates a natural break in play.

“There was a game recently in the Premiership where there were 14 kicks back-and-forth, and everyone else in the middle of the field not having to move. That’s wrong.

“But also, because they’re not having to move, it doesn’t open up the opportunity to counter-attack. Obviously, somebody could counter-attack, but they’re going to get turned over because all their players are behind the ball.

“It’s very smart by Dupont and everyone else copying that but I think it’s an area that they’re going to have to change. We don’t want to see the ball just being kicked 50 metres, 50 metres…in theory…could just stop there and as long as nobody moved you could just take a break in play. It’s madness.”

Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

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