Experiment in Rugby

Here are the eight experimental law variations identified by the International Rugby Board and to be trialled in the New Zealand provincial B competition this year:

TOUCH JUDGES

• Can indicate offside at the tackle by raising their flag horizontally in the direction of the offending team. The referee is not obliged to act on the offence.

FLAGS/POSTS

• Corner post and post at corner of touch in goal and dead ball line are moved back 2 metres. This ensures consistency of touch along the entire length of the touch line and touch in goal line.

INSIDE THE 22 METRE LINE

• When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22m line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22, if the ball is then kicked into touch on the full the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked.

LINEOUT

• On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders' goal line
• A player peeling off at the front of the lineout can do so as soon as the ball leaves the thrower's hands.
• The halfback/receiver in a lineout must stand 2m from the lineout.
• The non-throwing hooker does not have to stand between the 5m line and the touch line.
• There is no maximum number of players in the lineout but there is a minimum of two.
• Neither team determines numbers in the lineout.
• Pre-gripping is allowed.
• If a lineout throw is not straight, the option is a lineout or free kick to non-throwing team.

BREAKDOWN

• Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate (imaginary 1m area directly behind tackled player).
• Immediately as the tackle occurs there are offside lines.
• The offside lines run parallel to the goal lines through the hindmost part of the hindmost player at the tackle.
• A tackled player must immediately play the ball and may not be prevented from playing the ball by any player who is off their feet.
• Any other player playing the ball at the breakdown must be on their feet.
• If the ball is unplayable at the breakdown, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a free kick.
• If the ball is received directly from a kick and a tackle occurs immediately, and the ball becomes unplayable, the free kick is given to the team who received the kick.
• There are only three penalty offences (not including dangerous play) at the breakdown:
  1. Offside for not coming through the gate.
  2. Offside where defenders are in front of the last man on their side of the breakdown (the offside line)
  3. A tackled player must immediately play the ball and may not be prevented from playing the ball by any player who is off their feet
• All free kicks are tap kicks, including a mark and a scrum option is available for all FKs.
• Dangerous play will not be tolerated. Eg. Diving over the breakdown.
• The halfback should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.

MAUL

• Defending players can pull down the maul.
• Players joining the maul must do so through the gate.
• If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free kick.
• The "truck and trailer" (when the maul breaks in two) is no longer an offence.

SCRUM

• - The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the halfback, is 5m behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.

SANCTIONS

• For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and foul play, the sanction is a free kick.