Quote ="mikej"Wasnt the NRL trialling a ball with a built in GPS/motion transmitter. Linked to a light/alarm in the VR booth it would detect whether the ball was released in a backwards motion. '"
Never heard of that one, but I don't think it's possible anyway, as what is the point of reference? Certainly not the BPS which is only accurate to units of metres - not millimetres.
Quote ="mikej" The only way to make it SIMPLE for the fans would be to revert back to the old interpretation that if the ball was caught infront of where it was released in relatioon to the pitch, its forward.'"
Except there never was such an interpretation, nor should there ever be, as it would be ludicrous. To the point that the fastest players running at full tilt could physically never legally throw a pass.
Quote ="mikej"I can remember being at college MANY years ago and one of the lads on the rugby team could pass a ball flat and over a period of 20 yards (as it was then) he could make it travel 2-3 yards forward (you could actually see the swerve in the path if you were clsoe enough). He did it by putting spin on the ball. Under the current interpretaion such a pass would surely have to be considered backwards BUT try telling a spectator 40-50 yards away its didnt go 2 yards forward.'"
The rule simply states it mustn't leave the hands going forward relative to the passer. If you can throw a curve ball, great, perfectly legal. Same applies if there was a howling wind behind your back, throw it up and high and backwards, let the wind take it a mile forward, no matter, legal pass.
And anyway, try telling ANY spectator that the pass he's disgruntled with didn't go forward!
