World Rugby has announced three law changes to speed up the game and increase entertainment, along with a set of trials, including the 20-minute sanctions for red cards, and shotclocks for scrums and lineouts seen in Super Rugby Pacific.
The governing body made the amendments relating to offside from kicks in open play, the options available from a free-kick and the removal of "crocodile rolling' a player.
These "fan-focused" law changes aim to promote ball in flow and diversity of attacking options, while supporting player welfare.
"I would like to thank my colleagues from across the game for embracing the spirit of this comprehensive review of rugby's entertainment factor," said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.
From kicks in open play, players cannot be put onside when an opposition player catches the ball and runs five metres or passes the ball, which should reduce the amount of kick tennis in the game.
Scrums are now longer an option from a free-kick, which must either be tapped or kicked to encourage more ball in flow. The action of rolling/twisting/pulling of a player on their feet in the tackle area (the 'crocodile roll') will be outlawed, sanctioned by a penalty.
The law changes come into effect from July 1.
World Rugby has also announced a set of law trials, including the ability to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes, and the introduction of a shotclock for scrum and lineout setting.
Other trials will include a law saying the ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not the current twice, and for the ability to mark the ball inside the 22 from a restart.
They will also trial play on at a lineout if the ball is not thrown straight but only if the lineout is uncontested, and another law aimed at protecting the scrum half at the base of the scrum, ruck and maul.
The halfback cannot be played while the ball is still near a tackle, ruck or maul, and the offside line at the scrum for the opposition half will be the middle of the tunnel.
"Personally, I believe that the law amendments and suite of closed trials will add to the entertainment factor," Beaumont said. "As with all trials, we will comprehensively review their effectiveness and take feedback from across the game."
Reuters
