Rugby rule changes: Scrums scrapped from free-kicks, 20-minute red card to be trialled

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-rule-changes-scrums-scrapped-from-free-kicks-20-minute-red-card-to-be-trialled/PEBV32ECXVEDBOKZJPVYHSBMOQ/

Teams will no longer be allowed to choose a scrum from a free-kick under new laws to be rolled out across the game next season, with 20-minute red cards and shot-clocks for scrums and line-outs also to be trialled.

World Rugby confirmed overnight three permanent law tweaks that will come into force from July 1 of this year. Explaining that their plan “seeks to increase rugby’s accessibility and relevance among a broader, younger fanbase by embracing on-field innovation and reimagined presentation of the sport with compelling storytelling,” the governing body also announced several trials to take place at this summer’s Under-20 World Championship that could be rolled out across the game next year.

The first immediate change will see scrums outlawed from free-kicks, with teams required to kick or tap them to speed up the game.

South Africa notoriously called for scrums from free-kicks following marks in their own 22 during the knockout stages of last year’s World Cup.

The second change concerns kicks in open play, and the clause popularly known as ‘Dupont Law’. From July 1, it will no longer be possible for a player to be put onside when an opponent catches the ball and either runs five metres or passes the ball. In a bid to reduce the amount of kick tennis, offside players must now retreat.

Finally, the ‘crocodile roll’ – the act of twisting a defending player in the tackle area off their feet – will be outlawed. Christian Day, the current head of the Rugby Players’ Association, has been campaigning against the ‘crocodile roll’ for over two years and was an influential voice.

The changes are unlikely to end with the three laws introduced from July 1, given several new trials have been announced. Twenty-minute red cards, whereby the offending player can be replaced after that period rather than permanently excluded and which have been promoted by Super Rugby competitions over recent years, are part of a suite of six ‘closed law trials’ that will be used in World Rugby competitions, including the World U20 Championship, over the coming year.

There will also be a trial of automatic bans for certain offences in a concerted move from World Rugby to streamline the disciplinary process to avoid the confusion and inconsistency that has marred the game in recent years.

The 20-minute red cards will be off-set by a revised on-and off-field sanctions process with suspensions attached to offences. Days of mitigation for good behaviour at hearings or for previously clean records could be gone.

Foul play, where a player has “attempted to affect a legal rugby action” will bring about a two-week ban”. Aggravated foul play, involving “highly reckless” actions such as tucked arms, shoulder-charges and spear tackles, will be worth four-week suspensions. Mitigation will only come into force if there is an appeal.

Teams in the U20 World Championships and in other World Rugby competitions such as the Pacific Nations Cup and WXV will have 30 seconds to set scrums and line-outs. The shot clock for a conversion will be reduced from 90 seconds to 60.

There is to be added protection for scrum-halves at the bases of scrums, rucks and mauls, with the offside line for defending scrum-halves moved back to the middle of the scrum.

Red card idea is just stupid. 

Red card proposal necessary. People pay good money to attend test matches where a whole game can be ruined with an early red card.

Bring it on I say.

Oh boo hoo. 

A red card does not denote the outcome of a match detrimentally every time one is given. 

20 minutes on the naughty step is not deterrent enough. 

That’s the game ! And I would have thought the punters would know that !! 

Its more than a game

It’s not a Law change, it’s a trial.

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Do you have a song for every situation, blob ?!  

"South Africa notoriously called for scrums from free-kicks following marks in their own 22 during the knockout stages of last year’s World Cup."

LOL

So what card would an intentional foul be ....

20 minutes on the naughty step is not deterrent enough.

Beg to differ, Becs, taking into account that simple good hard rugby can get you a red these days if you just get a tackle wrong by a few centimeters. What Dave said, more or less. Replacing the offender rather than allowing him back is fine with me. 

I'd prefer a distinction made for blatant foul play, like a shoulder charge after the ball has gone or diving onto someone's neck in a ruck, in which case the offender can happily be removed permanently. But that goes into the quagmire of interpretation again.

So someone can really hurt…..deliberately or not……another player and they just get 20 mins on the naughty step ? Yep that seems fair. 

These incidents are 99% reactive….not premeditated. That means the punishment doesn’t stop the crime. 

I favor 10 minutes for any offense…for a yellow the player can return. For a red the player is gone for the game but can be substituted,

For a red there should then be a review of the incident and the players’ history with very draconian punishment if there is any evidence of willfully injuring a player. That is is also an opportunity to review the team’s record and penalize the very few teams that might have a poor discipline record.

In modern rugby teams are not committing red card offenses ….they aren’t coached to do that….players are. Don’t punish the team and the millions of spectators, get to the root cause.

Go bake a cake, Mavis.