New laws set to simplify scrums and rucks

WORLD Rugby have announced six new law changes that will have a significant impact on how players can act at scrum and ruck time, writes Matthew Southcombe.

The changes, that come into effect in the northern hemisphere on August 1, are aimed at making the scrum and ruck simpler to referee and easier to watch.

Players, coaches and referees were involved in a consultation process ahead of making the amendments official.

One of the changes relates to Law 20.8 (b) and it states that the team putting the ball into the scrum are now obliged to hook for it and it says that any front row player can use either foot to win possession.

This means that teams can no longer simply try and drive over the ball, which has resulted in stalemates and eventual collapses.

Elsewhere at the scrum, the No.8 will now be allowed to pick the ball out of the second rows’ feet with the aim of helping to get the ball away from a scrum quicker.

Finally at the scrum, the referee will no longer prompt the scrum-half to feed the ball and the No.9 is able to stand with his outside shoulder in line with the middle of the scrum, meaning he’s closer to his own team. However, the ball must still be fed straight.

Under changes to Law 16, a ruck now begins when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball. Players on their feet can use their hands to get the ball as long as it’s immediate and as soon as an opposing player arrives, hands can’t be used.

Players are also no longer allowed to kick the ball through a ruck and must only hook it back towards their own side.

Finally, a tackler must return to his own side and come through ‘the gate’ before playing the ball. This prevents the now common situation where a tackler plays the ball from the wrong side before a ruck is formed.

These new laws have been tested at various tournaments, including this year’s World Rugby Under-20s Championship.

It was determined that fewer penalties came from scrums and there were fewer collapses, with the ball being fed quicker.

The feedback with the ruck changes was that the tackle area became easier to referee with the tackler becoming less of a hindrance for the attacking team.