New Trial Laws 2021-2022
1) 50:22 lineout throw in
If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.
‘Indirectly’ means the ball must bounce before going into touch.
Why?
To encourage the defensive team to put more players in the backfield, thereby creating more attacking space and reducing defensive line speed.
Law wording – Law 18.8a:
A player, in their own half, kicks the ball indirectly into touch in the opposition’s 22.
Lineout is where the ball reaches the touchline
Who throws it in? – The kicking team
To see video examples Click HERE!
See a handy doc to help explain decision making HERE!
2) Goal line drop-out
If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.
Why?
To encourage variety in attacking play close to the goal line and to increase ball in play time by replacing a scrum with a kick that must be taken without delay. An opportunity for counter attack is also created.
Law wording
Law 12 (restart kicks section)
Play is restarted with a goal line drop-out when:
- The ball is played or taken into in-goal by an attacking player and is held up by an opponent.
- An attacking kick, other than a kick-off, restart kick following a score, drop goal or penalty attempt, is grounded by the defending team in their own in-goal.
- An attacking player knocks on in the opponents’ in-goal.
Law 21.16 -Ball held up in-goal
When a player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal so that the player cannot ground or play the ball, the ball is dead. Play restarts with a goal line drop-out.
To see video examples Click HERE!
3) Flying wedge
To outlaw the three person pre-bound mini-scrum by redefining the flying wedge.
Why?
To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players.
Law wordings
New definition of ‘latched’: Bound to a team-mate prior to contact
[Binding definition: Grasping another player’s body firmly between the shoulders and the hips with the whole arm in contact from hand to shoulder]
Amended definition of ‘flying wedge’:
An illegal type of attack, which usually happens near the goal line, either from a penalty or free-kick or in open play. Team-mates are latched on each side of the ball-carrier in a wedge formation before engaging the opposition. Often one or more of these team-mates is in front of the ball-carrier.
Law 9.22: Teams must not use the ‘flying wedge’.
To see video examples Click HERE!
4) 1-player pre-latched
The trial recognises the potential for 1-player pre-latching prior to contact. This will be deemed legal, but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet.
Why?
To be more consistent in the management of the 1-person pre-latched player.
To see video examples Click HERE!
5) Cleanout and the safety of the jackler
To introduce a sanction for clean outs on the jackler (now defined) which target or drop weight onto the lower limbs.
Why?
To reduce injury risk to the player being cleaned out.
Law wordings
New definition of a ‘Jackler’: The jackler is the first arriving team-mate of the tackler at the tackle. They must remain on their feet to contest directly onto the ball. If previously involved in the tackle, they must first clearly release the ball carrier before contesting for the ball.
Law 9.20 – Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.
New section D) A player may lever the jackler out of the contest at the ruck but must not drop their weight onto them or target the lower limbs. Penalty kick
To see video examples Click HERE!
New Laws 2017-2018
Definitions – Possession
This happens when a player is carrying the ball (or attempting to bring the ball under control) or the team has the ball in its control; for example, the ball in one-half of the scrum or ruck is in that team’s possession.
Guidance notes: The ball needs to be in close proximity to the player.
Number of Players
Law 3.6 – Uncontested scrums as a result of a sending off, temporary suspension or injury must be played with eight players a side.
Guidance notes: This also includes an HIA assessment or blood bin.
Community Game: When teams start with less than fifteen players the referee may take a different approach following discussions with both captains. For example, a team starting a game with thirteen players and not able to provide a fully trained front row from the outset would not be expected to lay with eight forwards and five backs at each scrum.
Time
Law 5.7 (e) – If a penalty is kicked into touch after time has elapsed without touching another player, the referee allows the throw in to be taken and play continues until the next time the ball becomes dead.
To end the half, the ball must be tapped before the kick to touch.
Guidance Notes: Referees to continue to call time on and off.
A team can, however, kick the ball dead over the dead ball line/touch in goal line to end the match. If a time keeper is appointed to with this role.
Advantage
Law 8.1 (a) – When there are multiple penalty infringements by the same team, the referee may allow the captain of the non-offending team to choose the most advantageous of the penalty marks.
Guidance Notes: If a yellow card(s) are issued this will be done before the captain chooses the most advantageous position.
Method of Scoring
Law 9 (a)1 – Penalty Try. If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded. No conversion is attempted.
Value 7 points
Guidance notes: A TMO or AR may intervene up until the game has restarted.
Amended Tackle
Law 15.4 (c) – The tackler must get up before playing the ball and then can only play from their own side of the tackle “gate”.
Amended Ruck
Law 16 – A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground (tackled player, tackler). At this point the offside lines are created. Players on their feet may use their hands to pick up the ball as long as this is immediate. As soon as an opposition player arrives, no hands can be used.
Guidance Notes: The ‘one man ‘ ruck only applies after a tackle and that normal ruck laws apply to all other situations e.g player voluntarily going to ground, ball on the ground in open play etc. The offside line is formed when a player from either team arrive over the ball.
Other Ruck Offences
Law 16.4 – A player must not kick the ball out of a ruck. The player can only hook it in a backwards motion.
Sanction: Penalty
Definition Mark
Law 18 – To make a mark a player must have one or both feet on or behind that player’s 22-metre line and catch a ball that has reached the plane of the 22-metre line.
Touch Definition
Law 19 – If the ball has passed the plane of touch when it is caught, then the catcher is not deemed to have taken the ball into touch.
Law 19 – If the ball has not passed the plan of touch when it is caught or picked up, then the catcher is deemed to have taken the ball into touch, regardless of whether the ball was in motion or stationary.
Law 19 – If a player jumps and knocks the ball back into the playing area (or if that player catches the ball and throws it back into the playing area) before landing in touch or touch in goal, play continues regardless of whether the ball reaches the plane of touch.
Guidance Notes: Passed includes reached.
No Gain In Ground
Law 19.1 (c) – If a player, with one or both feet on or behind the 22-metre line, picks up the ball, which was outside the 22, or catches the ball in front of the 22-metre line and kicks it directly into touch from within the 22, then the player has taken the ball back inside the 22, so there is no gain in ground.
Guidance Notes: A player in the field of play, who plays a ball that has reached the touchline, and which subsequently lands in touch, is deemed to have taken the ball into touch.
Throwing The Ball into the Scrum
Law 20.5 – No signal from referee. The scrum must be stable and there must be no delay once the ball has been presented to the scrum.
Guidance notes: The scrum half must ensure the scrum is stable before throwing in the ball.
How The Scrum Half Throws the Ball into the Scrum
Law 20.6 (d) – The scrum-half must throw the ball in straight but is allowed to align their shoulder on the middle line of the scrum, therefore allowing them to stand a shoulder width towards their own side of the middle line.
Guidance notes: Referees to ensure the scrum half is standing square to the scrum.
Striking After the Throw-in
Law 20 – Once the ball touches the ground in the tunnel, any front-row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball. One player from the team who put the ball in must strike for the ball.
Guidance notes: A strike must happen immediately. Any part of the lower leg from the knee to the foot – including the knee and heel may be used.
Sanction: Free-kick
Handling in the Scrum – Exception
Law 20.9(b). The number eight shall be allowed to pick the ball from the feet of the second-rows.
Guidance notes: The number 8 can only pick up the ball from the second row, not the front row and this has to be done from where they are positioned before the scrum feed.
Defending Player in In-goal
Law 22.9 (b) – If a player with one or both feet on or behind the goal line picks up the ball from within the field of play or catches the ball in front of the goal line, that player has taken possession of the ball, in the field of play.
Law 22.9 (d) – If a player with one or both feet on or behind the dead ball line picks up or catches a ball that has not reached the dead ball line, or touch-in-goal line, that player is deemed to have made the ball dead.
New Laws 2016-2017
The following law changes have come into immediate effect.
Please note that a proposed law change which would have allowed a team awarded a penalty in over time to kick to touch and still get the lineout has not been brought in.
WORLD RUGBY LAW CHANGES FOR 2016
Following the 2015 Rugby World Cup, World Rugby went through a Law review process which has led to some Law changes being implemented for the 2016 season around the world.
SCRUM Law 8.3 Advantage may now be played (if it is safe to do so) when a scrum collapses, or when a player stands up in a scrum and their feet are on the ground. Advantage cannot be played if a player in the scrum is forced upwards AND has no support on the ground. Safety should always be the priority when a scrum collapses.
Law 20.1 A team must be ready for the referee to call ‘crouch’ within 30 seconds from the time the referee makes the mark for the scrum (FK).
Law 20.10 When a team has the ball at the No8’s feet but the scrum is not moving forward, the referee will call ‘Use it!’ The team must use the ball immediately (Turnover scrum).
Law 20.11 When a scrum is legally wheeled through 90 degrees, this no longer results in a turnover. The scrum is reset with the same team feeding the ball, regardless of who had possession at the time of the stoppage.
Law 20.12 The scrum-half of the team that doesn’t win the ball in the scrum may not move into the space between the flanker and No. 8 when following the ball through the scrum (PK). This was previously an Australian U19 Law Variation, now applies worldwide
MAUL Law 17.3 The ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed. A player is not allowed to move/slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball. This is obstruction and should be penalised.(PK).
SUBSTITUTIONS Law 3.12 A player who has been tactically substituted may return to the field to replace a player who has been injured as a result of foul play. (If the team chooses to replace the injured player with a fresh reserve, the team does not gain any extra replacements.)
TIMING AT THE END OF A GAME Law 5 If a try is scored close to time expiring, so long as the conversion is kicked (boot striking ball) before time expires, there will be a restart. A team may decline to take the conversion so long as they indicate this before time expires. In this case, there will be a restart, and the kicking team cannot kick the ball out on the full, or not 10 metres, etc, to end the game. The game will continue with appropriate sanctions options given to the non-kicking team.
FOUL PLAY Law 10.2 It is now explicitly illegal for a player to ‘simulate’ that they have been subject to any infringement at all, including (but not limited to) foul play (PK).
KNOCK ON Law 12 If a player, in tackling an opponent, makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward from the ball carrier’s hands, that is a knock-on. If a player rips the ball or deliberately knocks the ball from an opponent’s hands and the ball goes forward from the ball carrier’s hands, that is not a knock-on.
MARK FOR PENALTY AND FREE KICKS NEAR IN-GOAL Law 21.2 The mark for all FKs and PKs awarded within 5 metres of a goal line is now 5 metres back from the goal line. Previously this was only true for an attacking team’s mark within 5 metres of the defending team’s goal line.
KICKING THE BALL IN THE RUCK – GUIDELINES
Players must not step over a ruck to kick the ball, especially when the ruck goes to ground. Players run the risk of red cards if contact is made to the head.