Speeding up the game in 2023 – World Rugby law application guideline issued

World Rugby have issued a Law Application Guideline ahead of what will be a huge year for the men’s game. With one minor exception, there are no law changes – there’s a moratorium on those in the year before a men’s Rugby World Cup. The guideline acts as a reminder to players, coaches and referees of existing laws which if adhered to, will lead to more ball in play time, and so improving the spectacle as a whole. The Guideline follows a Shape of the Game conference in November 2022, where rugby stakeholders in the men’s XV game discussed ways of speeding things up, reducing unnecessary stoppages and ensuring a safe spectacle was created for players, match officials and spectators alike. Similar meetings will be held for the Women’s and Community game in early 2023.

Some previous research for Statsperform showed that, contrary to popular opinion, the game has actually sped up since 1995 at least. In that year’s Rugby World Cup, there was just 25 minutes & 45 seconds of ball-in-play time. In 2019 that rose to 34 minutes, 21 seconds – a 33% increase. But that’s still a lot of 80 minutes where the ball isn’t active.

While some of these areas are purely a focus for elite rugby (kick timings/shot clocks, water carriers, TMO), World Rugby have stressed that the general principles cover the whole of the game.

Speeding up the game

Players and match officials are reminded of the following existing laws which need to be strictly adhered to across the game at all levels:

• Law 8.8d Conversion. The kicker takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed.
• Law 8.21: Penalty Goal: The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded.
• Law 9.7d A player must not waste time. Sanction: Free Kick
• Law 18.12 Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick.
• Law 19.4 Scrum: Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made. Sanction: Free-kick.

For elite rugby, World Rugby are working with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (TV and stadia) shot clocks for penalties and conversion to ensure referees, players and spectators can monitor them too. World Rugby Director of Rugby Phil Davies said, “We, our member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown, mirroring what happens in the LNR and Sevens.”

Unions and competitions have also been encouraged to apply to trial reduced times for kicks at goal to speed the game up and to set shorter, or specific times for lineouts which currently don’t have a time restriction in law.

TMO Protocol

Match officials have been reminded that the TMO process is for identifying and ensuring Clear and Obvious offences are dealt with on-field. The match official teams, led by the referee, have been encouraged to try and make speedier decisions and limit replays where not necessary.

Water carriers

The Global Law Trial on limiting the number of water carriers to two, and reducing the times they enter the field (the latter point only in the elite end of the game), has successfully reduced unnecessary stoppages and unnecessary influence by water carriers on players and match officials. However, creating set windows for water has created the impression of disrupting the game, even if that water was taken during a natural stoppage (try/injury/TMO review)

After taking feedback, Word Rugby will amend the Global Law Trial from 1 January to allow the two nominated water carriers onto the field when a try is scored. The timings will match the length of the kick taken. When the kick is taken, the water carriers must leave. Only in a game with no tries in the first 20 minutes, should another natural stoppage be used. If an injury stoppage is used, the water carriers must leave the field when the medic does so.

Negative player action

Referees will be asked to be strong on negative player actions. For example, trapping players into ruck, and first arriving players (the jackler) not aiming to play the ball.

There is also a reminder to players about their responsibilities not to hold the ball or walk off with the ball at penalties – this reduces attacking options by the non-offending team and slows the game down unnecessarily and will be sanctioned.

Players on the ground

Players who put their hands on the floor at tackles, rucks and mauls are subject to sanction, although judgement can be used if the player is using the ground briefly to maintain their own balance and stability.

Law definitions and relevant clauses

• Off feet: Players are off their feet when any other part of the body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
• On feet: Players are on their feet if no other part of their body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
• Tackle law 14.8a Other players must: Remain on their feet and release the ball and the ball-carrier immediately, and 14.8b Remain on their feet when they play the ball.
• Ruck law 15.12: Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck
• Maul law 16.9: All other players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet

Deliberate knock-ons

The subject of what is and what isn’t a deliberate knock on continues to cause debate. All participants are reminded of the following existing laws:

11.3 A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm. Sanction: Penalty.

11.4 It is not an intentional knock-on if, in the act of trying to catch the ball, the player knocks on provided that there was a reasonable expectation that the player could gain possession.

Players must endeavour to catch the ball. In the video on the WR site there are some good examples of realistic attempts to catch the ball and one which definitely doesn’t. Referees are asked to show good judgement when deciding if a player has a reasonable expectation of catching and gaining possession, and then in determining a sanction. Clear line breaks and scoring opportunities will continue to lead to yellow cards/penalty tries but it’s not an automatic sanction outside of those ones.

Challenge ourseleves to be better

Commenting on the latest directives, World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “As a sport, a movement and a family, we must always challenge ourselves to be better. That means taking time to consider what fans and players want the future of our sport to be, a future where more people want to play and support the game, where injury risk is reducing and where all involved in the game have their say.

 “These law application guidelines are a step on the road to reimagining our sport and come directly from the Shape of the Game conference in London in November, attended by players, coaches, referees, union CEOs and competition owners. By working together, we can achieve positive outcomes. I would like to thank all for their contributions and the match officials specifically for implementing the directives and we look forward to seeing the results.”