Andrew fears fans will quit rugby

Andrew said there were widespread worries in the game

Rob Andrew has warned fans could be turned off by the way the laws of the game are being interpreted.

The Rugby Football Union's (RFU) director of elite rugby said the way laws are applied reduces entertainment.

"I'm concerned crowds will decline unless changes are made. I think we're seeing it already," he told the International Rugby Board (IRB).

"You just have to ask people in the game - some coaches say they're turning the TV off when watching games."

Andrew added that newly-introduced law variations make teams fearful of taking the ball into contact, with the result they are kicking for territory too often.

606: DEBATE Crowds will drop off soon due to the poor standard of rugby being played, well done IRB you've managed to destroy a growing sport, give yourselves a pat on the back HERSH

"There is a concern within the game. Now you're better off without the ball than with it, which isn't what rugby should strive for," he said.

"The risk in keeping the ball hand is too large. There are some fascinating stats from this year's Tri-Nations, showing how little time South Africa had the ball yet they won the tournament.

"In one match against New Zealand they made the lowest number of team passes in any Tri-Nations match ever, yet still won.

"The New Zealand scrum-half made more than that on his own."

But the IRB says it will not consider any law changes before the next World Cup, in New Zealand in 2011.

Martyn Thomas, the chairman of the RFU's management board, said English rugby was lucky to have extremely dedicated fans, but their support should not be taken for granted.

"We want to make sure they've left saying they've watched a great game of rugby and I'm concerned that's not going to happen," he said.

"We're all in agreement that the spectacle of the game has changed and that's a concern.

"There's data to suggest that spectators are not comfortable with what's going on. Hopefully sense will prevail if attendances dive and the spectacle is not what it should be. Clearly the IRB have to look at that."

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