Every four years, rugby's governing body undertakes a complete health-check of the game's playing

trends across the Rugby World Cup cycle to ensure that the sport continues to develop at all levels

around the world. This extensive process is undertaken with full union consultation and has player

welfare, game simplification and fan experience at its core.

Law review proposals are considered against the following agreed principles:

1. Player welfare, especially concussion, is the number-one priority

2. The laws must allow for a fair contest for possession, especially in the contact area, in general play

and when play is restarted at scrums, lineouts and kick-offs

3. The game remains a sport for all shapes and sizes, for men and women, and for boys and girls

4. The unique identities of the game must be maintained, including the scrum, lineout, ruck, maul,

tackle, kick-off and restarts

5. Any changes must promote enjoyment for participants and entertainment for spectators and must

be in line with World Rugby's core values of passion, respect, integrity, discipline and solidarity

6. The laws must be applicable by match officials

7. The game should be as easy to understand as possible for players, coaches, match officials and

spectators

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Law 3.5 has been rewritten as was over complicated and repetitious, which makes it difficult to follow

and implement.

Law 3.6 refers to Uncontested scrums.

There is an error in the Law book (Page 35) schedule in 3.5(b). The penultimate row should read:

Either prop and hooker

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Where RFU Regulation 13 – Appendix 2; Rolling Substitutions, is being used, this does NOT apply, it is

classed as an interchange.

If Law 3.14 applies to the competition, the injured player must leave the field and be replaced at the

time of the foul play.

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Although Law 8.3 (d) (2015) is deleted from the law book, this does not remove the referee's

responsibilities for player safety.

Law 20.3 (h) covers a scrum collapse, stating; If a scrum collapses, the referee must blow the whistle

immediately so the players stop pushing.

Clearly this is the behaviour we will promote and although difficult, distance ourselves from the game

people may see on TV, despite it being quoted at us in meetings.

Law 10.4 (k), Dangerous play in a scrum, ruck or maul, which comprehensively cover dangerous play

in these situations, again these need to be reiterated when discussing this law change. All sanctioned

with a PK.

Advantage must not be played if there is risk to player safety.

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Foul Play – Law 10.3.(b) Repeated infringements by the team. (Page 68)

When different players of the same team repeatedly commit the same offence, the referee must

decide whether or not this amounts to repeated infringement. If it does, the referee gives a general

warning to the team and if they then repeat the offence, the referee cautions and temporarily

suspends the guilty player(s). If a player of that same team then repeats the offence the referee sends

off the guilty player(s).

Sanction: Penalty kick

6

In the Definition of Throw Forward, they have included the words ‘if the arms of the player passing

the ball move towards the opposing team’s dead ball line’.

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‘No player’ may block the throw in or prevent the ball from travelling 5 metres.

This has been changed from ‘a lineout player’

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The expectation is that the player will use the ball, no sanction has been provided by World Rugby.

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Additional sentence (Page 150): The non-ball winning scrum-half may not move into the space

between the flanker and No. 8 when following the ball through the scrum.

Sanction: PK

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Sevens and Tens Variations

Amendment:

Conversion kicks to be taken within thirty seconds of a try being scored instead of forty seconds

Law 9.B.1 – Taking a Conversion Kick

The kicker must take the kick within one minute and thirty seconds (ninety seconds) from the time a

try has been awarded. The player must take the kick within one minute and thirty seconds even if the

ball rolls over and has to be placed again.

Sanction: The kick is disallowed if the kicker does not take the kick within the time allowed.

Law 21.4 - Penalty kick requirements

(c) No delay. If a kicker indicates to the referee the intention to kick a penalty kick at goal, the kick

must be taken within one minute from the time the player indicates the intention to kick at goal. The

intention to kick is signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark

on the ground.

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1. The ripper must be attached to the jumper - No long arm transfers

2. The ball must be transferred hand to hand - No Sliding backwards

3. Arriving players must not join ahead of the ball carrier

4. Arriving players from both teams must not slide or swim along the side of the maul

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(g) A team scoring a try near the end of the match may take the conversion kick or not. Providing they

decline to take the kick or take the kick within the time remaining, a restart will occur and the match

will end at the next stoppage within Law. Time is taken from the strike on the ball.

(h) If there has been a score towards the end of the match and there is time for the restart kick to

take place, but time will expire immediately after the kick, and the kicker:

does not kick the ball ten metres (13.7 – two choices - To have the ball kicked off again, or To have a

scrum at the centre of the half-way line and they throw in the ball).

kicks the ball directly into touch (13.8 - three choices: To have the ball kicked off again, or To have a

scrum at the centre and they have the throw-in, or To accept the kick).

kicks the ball dead on or over the opponents touch-in-goal or dead ball line (13.9 - three choices: To

ground the ball, or To make it dead, or To play on).

The referee will offer the non-offending team the options provided by Law 13.7, 13.8 and 13.9

respectively and the match continues until the ball next becomes dead.

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Sets out the process on time and restart when a conversion attempt is declined.

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Addition to the definition.

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Gives the non-offending team the option of a scrum or throw in from touch when the ball goes into

touch from a knock on or throw forward.

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