Laws news

Global Law Trials - 1 January 2025

On 14 November, World Rugby Council agreed to implement the following Global Law Trials for new competitions/leagues starting after 1 January 2025.  In short, they include: 

  • Quicker conversions
  • A new set time to form a lineout (in line with 30 seconds at the scrum)
  • Cleaner play away from the ruck/maul/scrum
  • Not straight at uncontested lineout = play on

The following were not approved for progression

  • One stop maul
  • Mark from a kick off/restart
  • 20 minute red card replacement - decision deferred to 2025

The following are the new law wordings which will come into effect on 1 January 2025. From that date, they will be reflected in World Rugby's digital laws content.

 

Timings 

Rationale: Shorter stoppages in play 

Conversion reduced to 60 seconds

Law 8.8d. c. Takes the kick within 60 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again.
8.8a deletion - consequential change
The kicker:
a. Uses the ball that was in play unless it is defective. Sanction: Kick disallowed
Clauses b, c, d then relettered a, b, c

 

Lineout formation time addition - 30 seconds

Law 18.12 Teams form the lineout within 30 seconds of a mark being made without delay
Sanction: Free-kick.

 

Cleaner play at set piece

Rationale: Protect the 9 to enable more ball in flow from base of ruck, maul and scrum

Ruck: New 15.18

15.18: A player who is, or was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away 
Sanction: Penalty 
(Current 15.18-19 renumbered) 

Maul: New 16.18 

16.18: A player who is, or was part of the maul may not play an opponent near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away.  Sanction: Penalty

Scrum: 9 stays at tunnel

19.30a Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession:
a. Takes up a position near the scrum, no further than the centre line of the tunnel. with both feet behind the ball and close to the scrum but not in the space between the flanker and the number eight

 

Lineout not straight

Rationale: remove unnecessary additional stoppage

 

18.23a Amend sanction if ball not thrown straight with no competition

 

18.23 The ball must: 
a. be thrown in straight along the mark of touch towards a lineout player; 
Sanction: If the non-throwing team does not lift a teammate to compete for the ball, then play shall continue. If the non-throwing team lift a teammate to compete for the ball, then they shall be offered the option of a lineout or scrum. If the lineout is chosen and the ball is again not thrown straight, a scrum is awarded to the team that originally threw in the ball.

TMO Protocol

The revised TMO Protocol for XVs rugby can be found here.
A revised TMO Protocol for the World Rugby Svns Series can be found here. 

Presentation

A presentation is available here on the new laws with examples for players, coaches, match officials. 
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