Rugby fan-focused law changes confirmed

The largest reimagination of rugby’s entertainment value continues to progress with the World Rugby Council approving a package of law amendments that will come into effect from 1 July, 2024.

• Rugby stakeholders committed to increasing the sport’s entertainment factor to attract new audiences and grow the sport
• Approval of law changes, in addition to implementation of planned opt-in law trials within the Shape of the Game action plan, follows comprehensive process of engagement, consultation and examination with experts from across the sport
• Increasing the spectacle, safety and game simplicity at the heart of a phased action plan to be implemented over the next year with law changes and closed trials set to begin on 1 July, 2024
• Streamlined red card sanction process to be trialled in within a programme of six law amendment trials in World Rugby owned competitions in 2024 with the World Rugby Council making global implementation decision in November
• Unions and competitions can implement closed law trials
• Rugby law labs and specialist working groups set to examine additional facets of the game, including the Television Match Official protocol, the tackle/ruck area, number of replacements, tackle height in the elite game and terminology
• Announcement follows reinforcement of existing law to aid game flow, including quicker “use it” call by referees, reinforcement of the brake foot at the scrum and a refocus on water carrier practice