This Thursday, World Rugby unveiled a set of changes to the rules of rugby. This aims to make it easier for lay people to understand this sport.
Currently, World Rugby is working to “improve the entertaining aspect of sport to attract new audiences and promote its development […] to a wider, younger audience by introducing innovations on the pitch and rethinking the way sport is presented through more engaging storytelling.”. This is what the body announced in a press release this Thursday. In this sense, several rules will be modified as part of the “Shape of the Game” action plan, or “the shape of the game” in the language of Molière. Does continually changing the rules help in understanding this sport? The debate is open.
From 1er July, crocodile clips will be banned and punishable. To promote the fluidity of the game, it will no longer be possible to choose scrum during a broken arm. And that will be the end of the “Dupont Law”. This is intended to avoid ping-pong rugby sequences and many people can welcome that.
Rules in the experimental phase
From 1er Also in July, rules will be tested for the U20 World Rugby Championship, the U20 Trophy and the Pacific Nations Cup. There will only be 30 seconds left before a throw-in or scrum, as well as 60 seconds for conversions. The offside line for the scrum half who does not enter during a scrum will be in the middle of it and not at the level of the ball. Moreover, the torchbearer “may not be played when the ball is still near a tackle, scrum or maul”.
World Rugby has announced fan-focused law changes to increase the sport’s entertainment factor and attract new audiences to grow the game ud83dude4c pic.twitter.com/RFvzkfMM0r
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) https://twitter.com/WorldRugby/status/1788609588083740967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It will be possible to make a volley save on a kick-off. The ball must be played after the first stop and not after the second during a penetrating group. There will also be the possibility to play “even after an incorrect throw, but only if the alignment is impeccable, thus promoting the continuity of the game”. Finally there will be the possibility of replacing an excluded player after 20 minutes. Making the change of an excluded player, will those uninitiated to oval ball understand?
The final word is for World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont: “I would like to thank my colleagues for adhering to the spirit of this comprehensive review of the entertainment factor of rugby. With a schedule now established, including new competitions as well as all Women’s and Men’s Rugby World Cups up until in 2033, our major tournaments are defined and our content is ready.”
