- Player welfare at heart of trials
- Six law trials begin around the world – three with confirmed locations
- Variety of levels involved
- New four-year laws cycle review starts
World Rugby have confirmed that a series of six new laws will enter a wider set of extended trials through 2020. It’s important to note that only those competitions/leagues mentioned below are participating. These are *not* game-wide changes at this stage. But with rugby set to continue to experience exponential participation and fan growth as the new decade begins, World Rugby’s evidence-based drive to reduce the risk of injury in the sport continues to roll out.
World Rugby have, for many years now, stressed that player welfare is their top priority and the number of injuries in global elite rugby has reduced in recent years. Injury rates across global elite competitions have reduced by 15 per cent (30 per cent at Rugby World Cup 2019), demonstrating a change in culture, behaviour and strong compliance with World Rugby’s player welfare standards.
The major focus of the law amendment process was the imperative to reduce injury risk in the tackle. Tackles are responsible for 50 per cent of all match injuries and 76 per cent of all concussions (72 per cent to the tackler). This is in part driven by an increase of ball in play time by 50 per cent since Rugby World Cup 1987 to approximately 35 minutes at Rugby World Cup 2019. This environment has given rise to a 252 per cent increase in tackles over the same period, which is why World Rugby is focused on this important area.
Last year, World Rugby’s Executive Committee approved a package of innovative law trials specifically designed to reduce injuries at all levels.
Fans and players will be able to experience the trials up close this year in a range of countries at a range of rugby levels – from U16s in Georgia to Super Rugby levels.
Philosophy behind the trials?
The fundamental principle of all trials is player welfare and the trials have been approved after extensive analysis by the specialist Law Review Group. That process followed union submissions and analysis at the player welfare and laws symposium in Marcoussis, France, in March 2019.
Six of a kind
What are the trials that will be happening in 2020? The package of six law amendments are:
1) 50:22 kick
If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22 or from inside their own 22 into their opponents’ half, they will throw in to the resultant lineout
Rationale: To create space via a tactical choice for players to drop back out of the defensive line in order to prevent their opponents from kicking for touch.
To be trialled in:
- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Uruguay and USA in the Americas Rugby Championship
- Italy – Top 12, Serie A, B, C, Women, U18 and U16
- South Africa – Varsity Cup
- Georgia – U16 and U18s
2) High Tackle Technique Warning
Successfully trialled at the World Rugby U20 Championship for the last two years, reducing the incidence of concussion by more than 50 per cent. Rationale: Head Injury prevention strategy.
To be trialled in:
- Super Rugby 2020 – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- France – Top 14 and Pro D2
3) Reducing the tackle height to the waist
Rationale: Forcing players to tackle lower may reduce the risk of head injuries to both the tackler and tackled player. It may also encourage more offloads and expansive play.
To be trialled in:
- Community rugby in France- C 2nd and 3rd federal division – Federal B – Excellence B – Women’s Federal 1, C = Regional series – Honour Reserves – Rugby entreprises – Women’s’ Federal 2 – U19 League 1 and 2 – U16 League 1 and 2 – Women’s Federal U18, D = Game with 10 players
- Fiji’s Kaji competition, Deans Schools, Skipper and Vanua and Women’s competitions
4) Yellow card review
Ability to review a yellow card when a player is in the sin-bin for dangerous foul play.
Rationale: To ensure players who are guilty of serious foul play do not escape with a yellow card when they deserved red.
Trial location: Not yet decided
5) Automatic yellow card infringement limit
The introduction of an infringement (penalty and free-kick) limit for teams. Once a team has reached the limit, a mandatory yellow card is given to the last offending player as a team sanction.
Rationale: To encourage teams to offend less.
Trial location: Not yet decided
6) Ball held up = goal line drop out
The awarding of a goal-line drop-out to the defending team when an attacking player, who brings the ball into in-goal, is held up.
Rationale: To reward good defence and promote a faster rate of play.
Trial location: Not yet decided
RWC concussion fall
The trials follow a highly-encouraging Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan with initial data suggesting a reduction in incidence and severity of injury rates and a significant 30 per cent plus reduction in concussion rates versus other elite competitions.
The outcomes can be attributed to the implementation of the most comprehensive package of tournament player welfare standards, including the High Tackle Sanction Framework, which encouraged players to change behaviour from high-risk tackles to lower risk tackles.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “We have already seen hugely encouraging initial outcomes and feedback from Australia’s National Rugby Championship and are delighted to have such a broad range of elite and community leagues running trials thanks to the support of our unions and regions.”
Law Review Group to meet in March
World Rugby is currently seeking 2019 law amendment proposals from its member unions, regional associations and global elite competitions. The Law Review Group will reconvene in early March where the current trials will be reviewed and any new union proposals considered with recommendations made to the Rugby Committee.
The March meetings will also see the specialist Breakdown Group convene to consider injury prevention at the breakdown, which is responsible for approximately eight per cent of match injuries.