New laws ban scrums from free-kicks and ‘crocodile roll’

Guidelines also force offside players to retreat from a kick Trials for scrum shot-clock and 20-minute red card

Teams will no longer be allowed to choose a scrum from a free-kick under laws to be rolled out across rugby next season. Twenty-minute red cards and shot-clocks for scrums and line-outs are also to be be trialled.

World Rugby confirmed yesterday that three permanent law tweaks would come into force from July 1. Explaining that its plan “seeks to increase rugby’s accessibility and relevance among a broader, younger fan base by embracing on-field innovation and reimagined presentation of the sport with compelling storytelling”, it also announced several trials to take place at this summer’s Under20 World Championship that could be rolled out across the game.

In the first immediate change, scrums will be outlawed from freekicks. Teams will be required to kick or tap them in an effort to speed up the game.

The second change concerns kicks in open play, and the clause popularly known as “Dupont’s Law”. 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. In an attempt to reduce 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.

Six “closed law trials” at World Rugby competitions over the coming year will include 20-minute red cards, whereby the offending player can be replaced after that period rather than permanently excluded.

There will also be a trial of automatic bans for certain offences in a concerted move to avoid the confusion and inconsistency that has marred the game.

Serious 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 bring four-week suspensions. Mitigation will only come into force if there is an appeal.

Teams in World Rugby competitions will have 30 seconds to set scrums and line-outs. The shotclock for a conversion will be reduced from 90 seconds to 60.

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

Players will be able to mark the ball inside their own 22 from a restart, which has been introduced to encourage short restarts and discourage caterpillar rucks, which teams often use to clear the ball downfield. Finally, mauls can only stop once before the ball has to be played and, if line-outs are uncontested, then throws cannot be called as “not straight”.

These trial laws were discussed at the Shape of the Game conference in February and findings will be presented to the World Rugby Council in November.

“Personally, I believe that the law amendments and suite of closed trials will add to the entertainment factor,” said Bill Beaumont, the World Rugby chairman.

Among other areas being monitored by World Rugby is the tackleheight in the elite game.