King Charles has become patron of Red Rose county RUGBY UNION Law changes will KO scrum option from free-kicks

Lancashire say they are “honoured” to welcome King Charles as a patron of the club.

Charles takes over a role his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, previously held for 70 years and adds it to his position of Marylebone Cricket Club patron.

A portrait has been commissioned and will be hung in the Emirates Old Trafford Long Room once complete.

Andy Anson, chair of Lancashire Cricket, said: “On behalf of everyone at the club, we are honoured to welcome His Majesty The King as Lancashire Cricket’s new patron.

“We are extremely proud of the club’s connection with the royal family, and we’re delighted that His Majesty The King will continue the tradition of the Duke of Lancaster, being Lancashire Cricket’s patron.”

Teams will no longer be able opt for a scrum when awarded a free-kick as one of three law changes designed to make the game more entertaining.

The new rules take effect from July 1 so will be in force for England’s tour of New Zealand, which features Tests on July 6 and a week later. It is hoped that removing the scrum as an option will encourage more open play with free-kicks having to be either tapped or kicked.

A second change relating to when players are put on-side during kicks in open play dictates that any off-side players must now make an attempt to retreat, creating space for the opposition to play.

The third change is the banning of the “crocodile roll” and the offence will now be punished by a penalty.