World Rugby signs off new laws, affecting Springboks' signature scrum
"It affects one or two areas of the game but it's much to do about nothing," says Matthew Proudfoot, Former Springboks Forwards Coach.
Springboks Vs New Zealand, @Rugbyworldcup
Lester Kiewit speaks to former Springboks Forwards Coach, Matthew Proudfoot.
The World Rugby Council approved a package of law amendments that will come into effect from 1 July, 2024.
The Council says these rules have come to surface regarding player safety, creating a free-flowing game, curbing off-sides and crocodile tackles.
Three law amendments will be operational across the game for competitions:
- Offside in front of a kicker
- Eliminating the crocodile roll
- Removing the scrum option when a Free Kick is awarded.
Read the full details around the rules changes here.
How will these rules impact the game of rugby, considering the Springboks' dominance in scrummaging?
'It affects one or two areas of the game but it's much to do about nothing.'
- Matthew Proudfoot, Former Forwards Coach - Springboks
"You can't take the scrum from a free-kick and this might be the biggest implication for the Springboks. I'm sure Springboks management will find another way to be dominant."
- Matthew Proudfoot, Former Forwards Coach - Springboks
"What's concerning is we want to create this 15 on 15 percent attack-style of rugby which isn't the heart beat of what the game is about - it's about the contest and refereeing of those games and that's where we need to focus our attention to make sure that there isn't this grey area."
- Matthew Proudfoot, Former Forwards Coach - Springboks
Proudfoot says younger rugby players in junior teams who transition to play for senior rugby teams might have a hard time adjusting to the 'full force of scrummaging' because 'the gap is so big that kids might find it harder to catch up with how things are done at senior levels to inhibit injuries.'
Meanwhile, World Rugby has announced further details of a suite of six closed law trials that will operate across World Rugby-run competitions from 1 July, 2024, including the World Rugby U20 Championship, U20 Trophy and Pacific Nations Cup.
Unions and competition owners may implement within their own competitions as a closed trial.
A full review of effectiveness of the trials will be presented to the Executive Board in November to inform decisions regarding wider implementation.
- Revised on- and off-field sanctions process increasing simplicity, consistency and fan understanding. This features the combination of strong automatic off-field red card sanctions and the ability to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes.
- Introduction of the 30-second shot clock for scrum and lineout setting and a maximum of 60 seconds for conversions [a reduction of 30 seconds] aligning with the time permitted for penalty kicks at goal.
- Protection of the nine at the base of the scrum, ruck and at the maul following successful trials in Major League Rugby in the USA and in elite and community competitions in New Zealand. The nine will not be able to be played while the ball is still near a tackle, ruck or maul, and the offside line at the scrum for the non-putting in scrum-half will be the middle of the tunnel.
- Ability to mark the ball inside the 22m line from a restart, promoting attacking options.
- The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice.
- Play on at a lineout if ball not thrown straight but only if lineout is uncontested, aiding the flow of the game.
Specialist working groups established for future innovations (work to be completed by November 2024)
Other recommendations around the shape of the game will also be discussed in November 2024, said World Rugby.