New World Rugby rules: all amateur Rugby competitions affected from February 8, 2025

After those of 2021, new experimental rules seen during the last autumn tour, have just come into force at the start of 2025. Rules aiming to make the game faster, open, dynamic, and therefore telegenic. The FFR and the LNR, after having indicated to World Rugby that it would be preferable to install new rules only on July 1 of each season, have formalized the application in professional competitions, namely the Top 14 and the Pro D2. While amateur rugby was not affected by these new changes, official information came last week to confirm the opposite…

Offensive or defensive bonuses, scrums, tackles, there are a number of different rules between amateur rugby and professional rugby. But the new rules decreed by World Rugby for the start of the year will finally apply to amateur competitions.

“These new rules relate only to the fluidity of the game, it seemed important for questions of clarity, understanding, readability and harmonization, that these rules be extended to all official federal and regional competitions” said Xabi Etcheverry, in charge of French amateur rugby, after having confirmed it to all representatives of departmental, regional and national authorities.

What new rules are these?

As a reminder, the four new rules introduced are as follows:

• The 60-second limit for transformations, in order to align with penalties and accelerate the pace – a measure already in effect in TOP 14 and PRO D2 since the start of the 2024/2025 season,
• The limit of 30 seconds of preparation for sideline alignments to reduce downtime,
• The use of “play” or “play on” for uncontested hits when the throw is not straight,
• Protection of the scrum half during scrums, rucks and mauls

Application from February 8!

These new rules, far from being neutral as they must modify behavior and playing habits, will not be applicable for next season. But they will be applied to all official competitions from Saturday February 8, 2025. A date chosen in order to give clubs the time to adapt necessary to assimilate these new rules.

To support this measure in the best conditions, the FFR has planned an information and training plan for referees, and for the Leagues, via those responsible for league events.