LAWS

Law changes for distribution.pdf

• Maul: (law 17) - regarding the hand to hand transfer of the ball to the back of the maul
  • The ball can be transferred backwards "hand-to-hand" once the maul has formed. A Player is not allowed to move/slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball.
  • Scrum: (Law 20)
  •  Defending halfback cannot enter the pocket between flanker and No 8 (he must remain "outside" the feet of both players when coming around the scrum - he cannot touch either the flanker or the No.8 when trying to manipulate around that space.  The ball remains his offside line)
  • 30 seconds to form the scrum once referee makes the mark (Law 20.1 (d))
  • When a scrum is wheeled more than 90 degrees, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in. ( Law 20.11 (a) & (b) )
  • Line Out option at a PK
  • Penalty options after time expired to include playing a line-out (so if time is up on the clock for half time or full time, a team may kick for touch & play out the line out - same as scrum option)

  5.7 (e) OTHER TIME REGULATIONS

  If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty kick is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw-in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.

  Current Law when time expires denies a non-offending team all the options they are normally entitled to at a Penalty Kick. • Current Law provides reduced consequences for infringing after time expires compared to the rest of the game. • This proposal eliminates a negative tactic that can and does spoil the finish to close matches and instead provides a fair and appropriate conclusion. • If the team receiving the penalty wants to finish the half, they simply take ‘tap’ the ball first before kicking into touch.

       

  • Conversions
  • Time limit on kicks at goal to remain at 90 seconds from time of a try being scored 

   

  GAME INNOVATIONS FOR 2016

Super Rugby ONLY

 

• A Try bonus point for finishing 3 or more tries ahead of opponent (no longer do either team get a bonus point for scoring 4 tries...you must finish the game 3 or more tries ahead of your opponent, to receive the bonus point);

 

• Use of the current extended TMO protocols as in 2015 (keeping in mind that referrals should be kept to a minimum to avoid unnecessary stoppages and time wasting)

• Referee mic’d up to stadium PA (at this stage only possible at some stadiums)

 

Touch line Laws (change in interpretation).

• In the past, AR’s had to judge where the player “landed”  to determine whose throw in at a lineout.

 

• Following RWC, this interpretation has changed to the judging of the ball relative to the  “plane of touch” 

So see some typical scenarios below to explain the new interpretation:

Player X jumps from infield, catches ball which has not crossed plane of touch, lands out of field:
Player X has taken ball out. (this is the big change that needs noting)
Player X jumps from infield, catches ball which has crossed plane of touch, lands out of field:
Player X has NOT taken ball out.
Player X standing outside of field, jumps and catches ball outside plane of touch, lands in field of play:
Ball was out and he has not taken it out.
Player X standing outside of field, jumps and catches ball inside plane of touch, lands infield of play:
Play on.
Ball exits the field outside 22m area from a kick, rolls past imaginary extension of 22m line, player gets ball, throws in, kicks direct to touch:
Lineout where ball went out.
Ball exits the field outside 22m area from a kick, player collects ball and moves back past extension of 22m line, throws in, kicks direct to touch:
Lineout where player kicked from.