the essential
The organizer of the international competition announces this Friday, January 3, the implementation of several new features, which come into force from the next day. It will be the same for the European Challenge.
World Rugby has announced the introduction of new experimental rules aimed at speeding up play, which will be implemented from Matchday 3 of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup group stages. A day during which the Stade Toulousain players will challenge the Durban Sharks in South Africa (Saturday 11, 4:15 p.m. French time).
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“Following World Rugby's decision to implement global experimental rules in all competitions starting from 1 January 2025, the EPCR confirms that these experimental rules will be adopted from the third day of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup,” the organization said in a statement.
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From January 10, a new rule will limit the time allowed to attempt a conversion to 60 seconds, in order to bring it into line with the penalty limit. In addition, a 30-second limit for preparing for touches will be introduced, thus aligning this rule with that of scrums.
It will also be permitted to play an uncontested throw, even if the throw is not straight, which previously resulted in a scrum. Finally, scrum halves will benefit from better protection behind scrums, rucks and mauls.
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These rules, supported by World Rugby to “encourage speed, spaces and phases of contest, and improve the fan and player experience”, will also be applied during the Six Nations Tournament, which begins at the end of January.
