The following Law amendments have been approved for global trial by the IRB. The implementation began at the start of the Northern Hemisphere season in September last year, and now it’s time for the Southern Hemisphere to have a dart …
Law Amendment Trials
Law 3: Number of Players in a team
3.4 Players nominated as substitutes – International teams permitted to nominate up to eight replacements
Law 4: Players’ Clothing
4.1 Additional items of clothing – GPS monitors may be worn
4.3 Studs – Specific sole configuration with 5 studs in the front portion of the boot approved for trial
Law 6: Match Officials
6.A.6 Referee consulting with others – Extension to the jurisdiction of the TMO: The extended protocol will enable the referee to consult with the TMO to review up to two phases (rucks or mauls) before the ball is grounded in the act of scoring. The referee may also call on the TMO to advise on incidents of possible foul play.
Law 9: Method of Scoring
9.B.1 Taking a conversion kick – Conversions to be completed within 90 seconds of try
Law 12: Knock-on or Throw forward
12.1 The outcome of a knock-on or throw forward – When the ball goes into touch from a knock-on or throw forward, the non-offending team will be offered the choice of a lineout at the point the ball crossed the touch line or a scrum at the place of the knock-on or throw forward. The non-offending team may exercise the former option by taking a quick throw-in.
Law 16: Ruck
16.7 Unsuccessful end to a ruck – When the ball has been clearly won by a team at a ruck and the ball is available to be played the referee will call “Use it!” after which the ball must be played within five seconds. If the ball is not played within five seconds the referee will award a scrum and the team not in possession of the ball at the ruck is awarded the throw-in.
Law 17: Maul
17.6 Unsuccessful end to a maul – As above – Five seconds to play the ball from the back of the maul
Law 19: Touch and Lineout
19.2 Quick throw-in – For a quick throw-in, the player may be anywhere outside the field of play between the line of touch (previously where the ball went into touch) and the player’s goal line.
Law 20: Scrum
20.1 Forming a scrum – Changed scrum engagement sequence. From Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage … to … Crouch, Touch, Set
Law 21: Penalty and Free Kicks
21.4 Penalty and free kick options and requirements – Lineout alternative: A team awarded a penalty or a free kick at a lineout may choose a further lineout, they throw-in. This is in addition to the scrum option.
21.6 Scoring from a free kick – Dropped goal cannot be scored from a lineout taken instead of a free kick
