Law Amendments 2016

[Dave Cahill]

A number of minor law amendments, approved and announced in September 2015, come into effect from 1 July in the northern hemisphere having already been implemented in the southern hemisphere since the start of the year.

The June tests will be played under the current laws of the game, with the exception of the maul application guideline, which applies from 1 June (see below). Any international tournament that begins in June but overlaps into July will be played under current law.

The implementation of the package of law amendments by World Rugby Council follows detailed analysis and evaluation of union submissions by the specialist Law Review Group (LRG) which reports to the Rugby Committee. This evaluation process also featured specialist input from the Scrum Steering Group (SSG) and the Multi-Disciplinary Injury Prevention Group (MDIPG) over the past year and is the next phase of the law change process.

The main amendments are:

• The replacement of a player injured following foul play does not count as one of the allotted number of replacements available to that team
• Advantage may be played following a scrum collapse if there is no risk to player safety
• Play acting or “simulation” is specifically outlawed in the game in a move that formalises resistance to a practice that has been creeping into the game in recent years. Any player who dives or feigns injury in an effort to influence the match officials will be liable for sanction
• Teams must be ready to form a scrum within 30 seconds of the scrum being awarded, unless the referee stops the clock for an injury or another stoppage
• At a re-set scrum following a 90-degree wheel, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in rather than the team not in possession
• The scrum-half of the team not in possession at a scrum may not move into the space between the flanker and number eight
• When the ball has been at the number eight’s feet in a stationary scrum for 3-5 seconds, the referee will call “use it” and the attacking team must use the ball immediately

In addition, an important maul law application guideline, that has been in place in the southern hemisphere since 1 January, will be enforced in the north from 1 June. Specifically, the ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed. A player is not allowed to move or slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty.

[simonokeeffe]

Theyre all fairly good

I like the scrum wheel one which I imagine is harder to do with the ball than without it, I think we'll see a lot less penalties awarded for turning scrums even when it does happen

[Fireworks]

A number of minor law amendments, approved and announced in September 2015, come into effect from 1 July in the northern hemisphere having already been implemented in the southern hemisphere since the start of the year.

The June tests will be played under the current laws of the game, with the exception of the maul application guideline, which applies from 1 June (see below). Any international tournament that begins in June but overlaps into July will be played under current law.

The implementation of the package of law amendments by World Rugby Council follows detailed analysis and evaluation of union submissions by the specialist Law Review Group (LRG) which reports to the Rugby Committee. This evaluation process also featured specialist input from the Scrum Steering Group (SSG) and the Multi-Disciplinary Injury Prevention Group (MDIPG) over the past year and is the next phase of the law change process.

The main amendments are:

• The replacement of a player injured following foul play does not count as one of the allotted number of replacements available to that team
• Advantage may be played following a scrum collapse if there is no risk to player safety
• Play acting or “simulation” is specifically outlawed in the game in a move that formalises resistance to a practice that has been creeping into the game in recent years. Any player who dives or feigns injury in an effort to influence the match officials will be liable for sanction
• Teams must be ready to form a scrum within 30 seconds of the scrum being awarded, unless the referee stops the clock for an injury or another stoppage
• At a re-set scrum following a 90-degree wheel, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in rather than the team not in possession
• The scrum-half of the team not in possession at a scrum may not move into the space between the flanker and number eight
• When the ball has been at the number eight’s feet in a stationary scrum for 3-5 seconds, the referee will call “use it” and the attacking team must use the ball immediately

In addition, an important maul law application guideline, that has been in place in the southern hemisphere since 1 January, will be enforced in the north from 1 June. Specifically, the ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed. A player is not allowed to move or slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty.

Some good ones in there. Not a fan of the use it call when the ball is at the 8's feet. It removes one of the benefits of having a strong scrum. If you have a 5m attacking scrum you want the 8 to hold the ball and then attempt the drive over. Not always going to allowed to do that now.

[Dave Cahill]

Some good ones in there. Not a fan of the use it call when the ball is at the 8's feet. It removes one of the benefits of having a strong scrum. If you have a 5m attacking scrum you want the 8 to hold the ball and then attempt the drive over. Not always going to allowed to do that now.

No, you still can do that, you just have to make sure to keep moving forward.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Suggest a thread title change to "Rule amendments 2016".

Apart from that I'm happy enough. Can't say I've partcularly noticed them in Super Rugby but they sound good in theory.

[Ruckedtobits]

The Scrum wheel Amendment is an open invitation to "Joe Marler-type" drive across THP, scrummaging. Can't see logic unless it is solely to encourage fast & out striking, with no real scrum contest.

It didn't work when it was brought in originatlly because some of the top refs insisted that unless the two front-rows had gone 90 degrees, it wasn't a turnover. By that time the back rows were well past 90 degrees.

I remain to be convinced because scrum must remain a contest, not a refereeing exam.

[simonokeeffe]

What Im hoping for is instead of deciding between a penalty and a turnover the ref just orders a reset, removes incentive to play for penalty

[Fan with smartphone]

Thanks for that dave.

For once, rule changes I like.

[neiliog93]

Largely good. The scrum rule about using it is the best and most important rule change.

The French have been cheating for years by leaving the ball at the back of a scrum, going nowhere for 10-15 seconds, then inching forward a bit, and then collapsing like fatties for a penalty. Glad to see this miserable, cynical, game-ruining weapon being removed from the game. My only concern is that refs will ignore the rule or allow a long time to use it, as they do after calling 'use it' when a scrum-half stands at a ruck for 15 seconds.

[BlueBlue]

looks good

[Dave Cahill]

http://www.worldrugby.org/news/213339


New measures to limit contact with the head announced

Players, coaches and match officials urged to be proactive in changing culture of contact with the head area.

New measures to limit contact with the head announced


World Rugby has further strengthened its commitment to injury prevention by announcing details of a zero-tolerance approach to reckless and accidental head contact in the sport.

While injuries in the game are not on the rise, the federation continues to be proactive in furthering evidence-based strategies to reduce injury risk for all players.

In a change to law, World Rugby has redefined illegal (high) tackle categories and increased sanctions to deter high tackles via a law application guideline. This will apply at all levels of the game from 3 January 2017 introducing minimum on-field sanctions for reckless and accidental contact with the head, effectively lowering the acceptable height of the tackle.The guideline will be supported with a global education programme.



The approach, approved by the World Rugby Council after extensive expert, independent and union evaluation, combines with new disciplinary sanctions and a re-focus of match officials on dangerous play. It will provide a package of measures that aims to change culture in the sport to ensure that the head is a no-go area.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "World Rugby continues to be proactive in aligning with the latest evidence-based recommendations in this priority player welfare area to ensure players and coaches at all levels of the game are appropriately educated, managed and protected when it comes to head impacts and injury within the environment of a contact sport.

"We believe that we are playing a leading role in terms of the development and implementation of best-practice interventions and this important study further reflects our commitment to an evidence-based approach to player welfare. We believe that the invaluable data from this study will inform the law review process and lead to changes in playing or training practices."

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong said: "When it comes to protecting the head and neck of players, everyone is rightly very cautious now. The culture around concussion has completely changed and it's no longer acceptable for players to continue in a game if they're even suspected of having a concussion. When it comes to dealing effectively with concussion in sport, rugby is at the forefront. The International Rugby Players' Association (IRPA) supports any measure that protects our welfare and we are in favour of this initiative, which we believe will help further to reduce head and neck injuries at all levels of the game. Rugby is a physical sport and there will always be a level of injury risk associated with it but the sport is doing as much as it can to make it as safe as possible."

World Rugby Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Raftery added: "The findings of this important research study will also be prepared into a series of scientific articles that we aim to have published in peer-reviewed journals. We continue to welcome and facilitate all quality research for the betterment of the game in this priority area.

"World Rugby is committed to playing a leading role in the sporting head injury agenda and continues to drive forward evidence-based strategies in education, prevention, management and research that are proving successful in protecting players at all levels of the sport."

From 3 January, two new categories of dangerous tackles will carry penalty offences to deter and eradicate high tackles:

Reckless tackle
A player is deemed to have made reckless contact during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game if in making contact, the player knew or should have known that there was a risk of making contact with the head of an opponent, but did so anyway. This sanction applies even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. This type of contact also applies to grabbing and rolling or twisting around the head/neck area even if the contact starts below the line of the shoulders.

Minimum sanction: Yellow card
Maximum sanction: Red card

Accidental tackle
When making contact with another player during a tackle or attempted tackle or during other phases of the game, if a player makes accidental contact with an opponent's head, either directly or where the contact starts below the line of the shoulders, the player may still be sanctioned. This includes situations where the ball-carrier slips into the tackle.

Minimum sanction: Penalty

[Dexter]

Interesting. Presumably this was in the pipeline anyway, but would the NZ antics have accelerated it?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Seems quite subjective, which might not be a bad thing although there'll be issues around consistency.

[All Blacks nil]

Minimum yellow card for a neckroll.
That will eradicate that from the game and should result in a lot more successful jackal turnovers and holding on penalties.
Expect plenty gnashing of teeth from January 3rd from uninformed supporters

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I find the neck roll stuff a bit annoying, they need to stop players getting into positions where a neck roll is the only option as much as eradicating the neck roll itself.

[ribs]

Fully agree with the first, but the accidental tackle one will be very controversial. I expect all attacking teams to carry low and stooped.
edit and bad for choke tackle

[rooster]

Found this interesting clip by BT with Ben Kay and Ugo Monye on the issues with the new tackle Laws
I had posted it on Ulster thread but here is more appropiate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HES1WJonrsk