SANZAAR confirms law variations for Rugby Champs

NEWS: SANZAAR has confirmed the introduction of several law variations that will be implemented in this year’s Rugby Championship.

The 20-minute red card will be headlining the changes for the tournament, which starts Saturday.

In certain cases, under the new rules, players sent off after being shown a red card can be replaced by another player 20 minutes later.

The rationale is that individual players, not the match, are punished for some red card offences, SANZAAR said in a statement.

However, deliberate foul play with a high level of danger will still result in a full red card for the offending player, who can neither return nor be replaced, SANZAAR added.

“The Rugby Championship is the flagship of the sport in the Southern Hemisphere and annually we see the best players in the world battle it out for the title,” said SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris.

“We believe this year’s championship, which has been keenly anticipated by the players and fans, will again exhibit the best of what the game has to offer with exciting, tough action on the field, enhanced by the evolution in the laws of the game.

“SANZAAR on behalf of its member unions continues to explore ways to make the Rugby Championship and rugby in general even more attractive to fans.”

A countdown clock of 60 seconds for kickers to take conversions and penalties is among the other rules changes being introduced this season.

Forward packs will also have 30 seconds to form a scrum or line-out.

The new laws also include extra protection for the scrumhalf, who can’t be tackled within a metre at the base of a scrum, maul or ruck.

The referee will be allowed to let play continue for a crooked line-out throw under the changes if the defending team does not contest the ball.

See below for full details on law variations for Rugby Championship

Red card

In the event foul play is determined to be deliberate and with a high level of danger it will result in a full red card for the offending player who will not return to the field nor be able to be replaced.

All other red cards that do not meet the above threshold will be 20-minute red cards in which the offending player will be removed from the match but will be entitled to be replaced by another player after 20 minutes.

The offending team will then be able to replace the red-carded player with one of their available replacements.

Rationale: The individual, not the game, is punished for red card offences.

Countdown clock for scrum, line-outs and kicks at goal

Conversion & Penalty: A player will have 60 seconds to kick at goal (conversion) from when a try is scored, or 60 seconds to kick at goal (penalty} from the time the referee is informed of the kick at goal option. If a player exceeds this time limit the conversion kick shall not count/be kicked – play restarts at the centre mark; for a penalty, a scrum is awarded to the non-kicking team at the place of the penalty.

Scrum: A scrum must be set 30 seconds from when the mark for scrum is made by the referee. A free kick shall be awarded at the place of the scrum against the team causing the delay.

Line-out: A lineout must be formed 30 seconds from the AR signalling the place of the line-out. A free kick shall be awarded on the 15-metre line against the team causing the delay.

Rationale: Speed up ball returning to play after a score, kick for touch or scrum.

Protection of the No.9 at the base of the scrum, ruck and at the maul

Ruck: A player who was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away. ‘Near’ is defined in Law as being “within one metre”. Sanction: Penalty.

Maul: A player who is part of the maul may not play an opponent near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away. Sanction: Penalty.

Scrum: Once play in the scrum begins, the scrumhalf of the team not in possession must take up a position with both feet no further than the centre line of the tunnel; or permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot. Sanction: Penalty.

Rationale:  All three measures allow the scrum half, or player in that role, to play the ball away cleanly from the phase of play without disruption.

Play on for a line-out not straight if the throw-in is uncontested.

Law dictates that the ball must be thrown straight into the line-out.

However, if the defending team are not lifted to compete for the ball, then play shall continue in the instance a throw may appear not straight.

If the defending team lift a teammate to compete for the ball and a throw is not deemed straight by the referee then they shall be offered the option of a line-out or scrum. If the line-out is chosen and the ball is again not thrown straight, a scrum is awarded to the team that originally threw in the ball.

Rationale: Doesn’t force a stop in play where no material offence has taken place.