2025 global law trials approved – 20 min red decision deferred

World Rugby‘s Council – made up of representatives from across the global game – has approved a package of law trials for 2025 onwards. They were all trialled in international competitions over the summer/autumn this year, with some being used in domestic competitions around the globe.

The four areas, which will become global law trials for all levels of the game, will be adopted for all new competitions that start after 1 January 2025.

They are:

• 60-second conversions to match existing penalty times. Shot clocks in play for elite rugby.
• 30-second setup for lineouts is now in law rather than “without delay” – matches the time set in law for scrums
• Uncontested lineouts which aren’t perfectly straight will be deemed “play on”
• Cleaner ball away from scrums, rucks, and mauls by limiting contact on the scrum half

Proposals for global law trials to call a mark inside the 22-metre line at kick off and restarts and for single stop mauls did not receive the required 75% support so will not proceed. The vote on the 20 minute red card replacement will be taken next year, once the Autumn Nations Series and 2025 Six Nations have concluded.

Updated Television Match Official protocol

A revised Television Match Official (TMO) protocol was also approved for use in the existing global trial covering the TMO. Under the updated protocol, the TMO can bring in infringements in the ‘final attacking passage of play’ before scoring (knock on, forward pass and in touch) and in the within the final two phases specifically (offside, maul obstruction and tackle complete).

The final passage of play is defined as the passage of play since the last restart (if there has been no turnover in possession), or the passage of play since the last turnover in possession has taken place. This is the protocol currently operational in the Autumn Nations Series and has been used across the trials in the summer.

20 minute red card replacement decision deferred

With the cross-hemisphere international matches having only just begun, the Council decided to delay consideration of the 20-minute red card trial until the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series.

The full texts of the law trial wording is available here.