- Five welfare-focused trials to be adopted globally from 1 August, 2021
- Outcomes will be evaluated in 2022 to inform decision on adoption into law
World Rugby have today unveiled a series of five global law trials to be implemented globally, for competitions starting on, or after 1 August 2021.
Four of the five trials that will be implemented have an underlying focus on potential welfare advancements across the game.
Two have been operational in pilot environments in the last few years. The goal-line drop out, which has been seen in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and the Pro14 Rainbow Cup – and the 50:22, which was most recently operational in Super Rugby AU. Both have the potential to increase space and decrease defensive line speed, which in turn could have welfare benefits.
Three trials focus specifically on reducing injury risk at the breakdown following detailed evaluation by a specialist Breakdown Working Group. The first will see the introduction of sanctioning of clear-outs which target the lower limbs. The second will outlaw the practice of multi-player (three or more) pre-bound pods. The third area will tighten the definition of what is permissible in the practice of one-player latching.
The trials will last for one year, before being reviewed. Those deemed successful in meeting the objective of increasing safety while enhancing the spectacle will be tabled for Council to determine whether they are adopted into law at its May 2022 meeting, a full year ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
As well as these which come in globally, World Rugby are also looking at a package of community law variations to provide unions with law flexibility at a community level, including weight-banded matches, reduced tackle height and limitations to scrum and lineouts.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “Rugby’s laws are fundamental to its accessibility, appeal and safety. It is our mission to ensure that the laws are the best that they can be for everyone playing the game and this law review process has players and player welfare at heart as the approvals show.”
Joe Schmidt, World Rugby Director of Rugby and High Performance added: “Law review is fundamental to a sport that is constantly evolving and at the heart of our aspiration to make rugby as safe and accessible as possible. This process has been truly collaborative, bringing together coaching, playing, officiating, law and medical experts to consider the future playing of the sport.”
Here’s a look at the different global law trials
1) 50:22 lineout throw in
If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.
‘Indirectly’ means the ball must bounce before going into touch.
Why?
To encourage the defensive team to put more players in the backfield, thereby creating more attacking space and reducing defensive line speed.
Law wording – Law 18.8a:
A player, in their own half, kicks the ball indirectly into touch in the opposition’s 22.
Lineout is where the ball reaches the touchline
Who throws it in? – The kicking team
2) Goal line drop-out
If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.
Why?
To encourage variety in attacking play close to the goal line and to increase ball in play time by replacing a scrum with a kick that must be taken without delay. An opportunity for counter attack is also created.
Law wording
Law 12 (restart kicks section)
Play is restarted with a goal line drop-out when:
- The ball is played or taken into in-goal by an attacking player and is held up by an opponent.
- An attacking kick, other than a kick-off, restart kick following a score, drop goal or penalty attempt, is grounded, or made dead by the defending team in their own in-goal.
- An attacking player knocks on in the opponents’ in-goal.
Law 21.16 -Ball held up in-goal
When a player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal so that the player cannot ground or play the ball, the ball is dead. Play restarts with a goal line drop-out.
3) Flying wedge
To outlaw the three person pre-bound mini-scrum by redefining the flying wedge.
Why?
To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players.
Law wordings
New definition of ‘latched’: Bound to a team-mate prior to contact
[Binding definition: Grasping another player’s body firmly between the shoulders and the hips with the whole arm in contact from hand to shoulder]
Amended definition of ‘flying wedge’:
An illegal type of attack, which usually happens near the goal line, either from a penalty or free-kick or in open play. Team-mates are latched on each side of the ball-carrier in a wedge formation before engaging the opposition. Often one or more of these team-mates is in front of the ball-carrier.
Law 9.22: Teams must not use the ‘flying wedge’.
4) 1-player pre-latched
The trial recognises the potential for 1-player pre-latching prior to contact. This will be deemed legal, but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet.
Why?
To be more consistent in the management of the 1-person pre-latched player.
5) Cleanout and the safety of the jackler
To introduce a sanction for clean outs on the jackler (now defined) which target or drop weight onto the lower limbs.
Why?
To reduce injury risk to the player being cleaned out.
Law wordings
New definition of a ‘Jackler’: The jackler is the first arriving team-mate of the tackler at the tackle. They must remain on their feet to contest directly onto the ball. If previously involved in the tackle, they must first clearly release the ball carrier before contesting for the ball.
Law 9.20 – Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.
New section D) A player may lever the jackler out of the contest at the ruck but must not drop their weight onto them or target the lower limbs. Penalty kick
Is there a good reason for not applying law 13.4 strictly? We frequently see players diving on to tackle situations without sanctions.
It should be – maybe this will focus minds too
Are we turning into rugby league? will the next thing be, as the Aussies wanted a few years ago, uncontested scrums?
Law 18.8a changes.
Where I can it will promote attacking rugby.
The downside is that there will be constant line outs and I believe will slow the game down.
Esp at ‘grassroots level’ !
The flying wedge ban and pre binding are proactive safety laws and I support safety in the game.
(Having said that the Aussie winger should NOT have had a ‘Red’ vs France after the No8 ‘dived’.)
After many discussions with many club level refs….the ‘Squint feed’ HAS to stop !
1 it’s cheating
2 it does not constitute ‘fair contest’
I’d be keen to hear opinions on that.
As my colleague said above its tantamount to uncontested scrummage.
To get back to having a real contest in the strike for the ball in scrums would require a significant increase in the height of the scrum. The chief reason halves are feeding back towards their locks is that hookers are now rarely able to strike for the ball without losing stability against the push of the opposition. Setting scrums to, say, no lower than waist height would reduce the force/power each side could apply and give both hookers a much easier chance to quickly strike for the ball. On the other side of this, it might also increase instability and might make collapses more dangerous since they’d be coming down from a greater height.
Set scrums remain a major problem for the sport and its appeal. Referees are expected to recognise, even on the far side, when one prop is pulling down. Resulting penalties often have a major bearing on the match result.
Why not make it impossible? Keep the scrums as they are, but after ‘bind’ and ‘set’, when the referee is satisfied that all is stable, call ‘release’ for the props to break their bind on their opponents, instead keeping things stable with their binding hand on their own knee/thigh. Ball goes in. Fair contest, fewer penalties, easier for referees, collapsed scrum less likely, maybe even a gain for player safety.