New Law Application Guideline revealed by World Rugby – “Use it”, brake foot and water carriers

World Rugby has started to roll-out the outcomes from the recent Shape of the Game conference in London earlier in March.

Starting with the new Law Application Guideline, World Rugby have set out a five-phase approach to explore, adopt and trial the key outcomes and laws. Not all five are sequential and will run concurrently.

Phase 1: Law Application Guidelines reinforcing existing law around scrum, ruck and water carriers

This doesn’t create new law so has been done more quickly. The new Law Application Guideline focuses on speeding up play and player safety:

Caterpillar rucks – “Use it” call. Law 15.17: Players will be expected to use the ball more quickly when the ball has been secured at a ruck/breakdown. Law 15.17 says the “use it” call should come when the ball is “clearly won and is available to be played.” At the moment, the call is generally coming after the 9 (usually) has moved it in the ruck with their foot (dubious in law itself) and it’s at the back of the ruck. The guideline says that if the 9 has played it with their foot then it must, at that point, have been won and available to be played. Therefore, referees will be asked to call “use it” earlier, which will begin the five second count to play the ball away. That should mean the caterpillar rucks don’t have time to form. See video examples here: Source: Word Rugby/Six Nations Rugby

Brake foot – Law 19.10: Hookers will be expected to maintain a full brake foot to aid scrum stability and safety during the engagement sequence. Any adjustment must maintain the act of the brake.

Water carriers (Law 6.29) – After some initial progress, water carriers are now appearing on the field more often, when the 2022 Global Law Trial in the elite game says they should only come on after tries.

Interestingly, the guideline recognises that if players don’t adapt, then there will be more penalties and so more stoppages which is the opposite of the point they are trying to make.

Phase 2: Law amendment recommendations for global adoption  

Law amendments will be discussed and agreed at the World Rugby Council on 9 May. They will look at changes to some current laws:

• Law 10 in relation to players being put onside when there are kicks in open play, as per the current Super Rugby Pacific trial which aims to reduce kick tennis.
• Removal of the scrum option from a free-kick, reducing dead time. [edit since originally posted]
• Outlawing the practice of the ‘croc roll’, reinforcing player welfare focus

Phase 3: Closed law trials

Unions and competition owners will be encouraged to implement a package of closed law trials which can be adopted at domestic or cross-border level:
• Expansion of the shot clock for scrum and lineouts and reduced kicking time at conversions.
• Ability to mark the ball inside the 22m line from a restart, promoting attacking options.
• The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice.
• Protection of the nine at the base of the scrum, ruck and at the maul following successful trials in Major League Rugby in the USA and in elite and community competitions in New Zealand.
• Play on for lineout not straight if the throw in is uncontested.

Phase 4: Specialist working groups

Some specialist working groups will be established to further explore aspects identified by the Shape of the Game forum for further consideration. They may make recommendations to Council in May, later in the year, or next year. For example:

• On- and off-field sanctions: There will be a comprehensive review of the sport’s disciplinary and sanctioning processes. That seems to open the door to a 20minute red card replacement where a red carded player can be replaced by another player after 20 minutes.
• Tackle/Ruck/Breakdown: Looking at the safety and spectacle issues around the breakdown, especially the jackal and protecting the jacklar.
• Television Match Official (TMO) protocol: Determine the optimal remit for the TMO protocol, while setting new minimum standards for technology providers.
• Replacements: Looking at whether fatigue and the number and timing of replacements in the elite game may need to be amended
• Fan experience: A thorough review of the language and terminology that is used within the game.
• Tackle height: Consider the results of the community tackle height trials across 11 unions and consider appropriateness for elite rugby.

Phase 5: Examine impact of specific aspects of the game in new Rugby Labs

New Rugby Labs are being used to test out new aspects of law in a controlled environment evaluated by data and player feedback. That will allow World Rugby to examine the impact of aspects of the game before they are brought into trial or into law. These are likely to include the scrum engagement sequence and the tackle/ruck area.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont (pictured right) said: “Change is in rugby’s DNA. Two  hundred years ago we were born from a desire to change, and we are harnessing that same spirit to excite the next generation of fans and players. The moves that we are making are grounded in our commitment to increasing relevance on a global basis and born from a desire to change for the better.  

“That means being bold, embracing change by dialing up the entertainment value, making our stars more accessible and simplifying terminology and language used to explain rugby to those who are yet to fall in love with it.

“We have moved quickly. It has taken a special unity and commitment from across the sport to be able to present a package of enhancements to the Council in May. I look forward to the discussions.”

Shape of the Game

The conference, held in London, included international competition and professional club competition representatives, coaches, International Rugby Players and International Rugby Match Officials representatives, union representatives, community game, laws, welfare and fan-engagement experts.