The world rugby body World Rugby announced on Tuesday that it had taken a step towards the adoption of several new rules tested this summer in different competitions, including the red card reduced to 20 minutes. Validated by the World Rugby executive committee, these rules could be adopted globally if approved at the World Rugby council on November 14, the body indicated in a press release.
They had been tested for several months in different competitions such as the Rubgy Championship, the Women XV or the Pacific Nations Cup, and resulted in “an increase in playing time”highlights World Rugby. “The proposed changes […] are designed to improve the spectator and player experience by promoting faster play and reducing stoppages in play.”
Red card reduced to 20 minutes
Among these new rules desired by World Rugby, the most notable is that of the reduced red card: an excluded player could still no longer return to the pitch, but could be replaced after 20 minutes, allowing his partners to no longer finish the match at 14.
Other rules are also concerned: a limit of 30 seconds for playing scrums and throw-ins in order to speed them up, the possibility of making a volley save within 22 meters on returns, the obligation to play the ball from the first stop of a maul and no longer the second, or the possibility of letting the game continue if a throw into touch is not straight, as long as the opposing team has not contested in the air.
More powers for video referees
World Rugby would also like to limit the time for a conversion after a try to 60 seconds, to align it with that of a penalty, as has been done in the Top 14 and in Pro D2 since the start of the season.
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The body wishes to improve the rules for protecting scrum halves behind rucks, mauls and scrums, always in order to encourage a game ” fluid “. The executive committee also validated an expanded protocol for video referees, who could be given more power to intervene in the event of fouls before a marquee action.
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