World Rugby to trial five laws aimed at improving player welfare

World Rugby on Wednesday has announced new five law trials aimed at improving the player welfare.

The laws including 50/22 which was used in few Super Rugby competitions which allows a team to gain a throw-in inside the opposition’s 22-metre area by kicking the ball to touch with at least one bounce from their own half will come into effect from 1st August across all the competitions.

A goalline drop-out will replace five-metre scrums "When the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line."

The governing body has also announced three more trials focussing specifically on reducing injury risk at the breakdown.

First more sanctions will be given on clear-outs which target lower limbs while restrictions have been imposed on attacking players latching onto teammates from a ruck. The final law is aimed at more consistency in the management of 1-person pre-latched player but "but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet."

Meanwhile, World Rugby has also announced protocols to deal with concussions with independent specialists set to review every case of a player returning after a head injury.

Independent Concussion Consultants panel will be giving their expert opinions on whether players are ready to return to action following a concussion or head related injuries.

"This will become an integral part of the graduated return to play process for the elite game," said World Rugby's chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey.

"We've used the ICC at the World Cup in 2015 and 2019, particularly in a tight game turnaround.

"But we consulted with our concussion working group and we had a significant review process of what we could do to strengthen the graduated return to play. And the addition of the ICC was seen as the best option."

Laws:

• 50:22 :If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.
• Goal Line Drop out: If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.
• Pre-bound pods of players: Outlawing the practice of pods of three or more players being pre-bound prior to receiving the ball – the sanction will be a penalty kick.
• Sanctioning the lower limb clear-out: Penalising players who target/drop their weight onto the lower limbs of a jackler – the sanction will be a penalty kick.
• Tightening law relating to latching: One-player latch to be permitted, but this player has the same responsibilities as a first arriving player (i.e. must stay on feet, enter through gate and not fall to floor) – the sanction will be a penalty kick.