In November 2022, all rugby stakeholders in the men’s XV game discussed ways of speeding up the game, reducing unnecessary stoppages and ensuring a safe spectacle was created for players, match officials and spectators alike.
As we get closer to the showcase men’s rugby tournament in 2023, some new guidelines have come out for the elite game. These guidelines are focused on keeping the game safe and fast-paced for the Rugby World Cup 2023 and beyond.
While some of these guidelines are only relevant for elite rugby, like how much time kicks can take and water carriers, the general principles apply to the whole game.
Basically, things need to speed up. Players and officials need to follow the existing laws closely, such as taking kicks within a certain amount of time and not wasting time on the field. The rules for forming a lineout and scrum are also being reinforced, and broadcasters might use shot clocks to keep everyone on track.
For the top level of rugby, IRB is encouraging competitions to experiment with shorter kick times to help the game move even faster. The results of these trials will be reviewed in a few years to see if any permanent changes should be made.
The idea is to only use the TMO to spot Clear and Obvious offences and keep the game moving along. The ref team, led by the main ref, should try to make faster decisions and not spend too much time watching replays.
The Global Law Trial on water carriers has been pretty successful. By only allowing two carriers and limiting how often they can go on the field, we’ve cut down on time-wasting and interference with the game. However, some people have complained that setting specific times for water breaks feels weird and out of place, even if the break happens naturally during a try or an injury review.
To address this, the IRB are tweaking the rules a bit. Now, water carriers will be allowed on the field when a try is scored, and they can stay on for the length of the kick. If there haven’t been any tries in the first 20 minutes, we’ll use the next natural stoppage instead. And if someone gets hurt, the water carriers have to leave when the medics do.
Refs are going to start cracking down on negative player actions, like trapping people in the ruck or not trying to play the ball. And players need to remember not to hold onto the ball or walk off with it during penalties – that slows everything down and isn’t fair to the other team.
A couple new rules which should be interesting for 2023:
- Players who put their hands on the ground at tackles, rucks, and mauls can be sanctioned.
- Off feet: Players are off their feet when any other part of the body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
- On feet: Players are on their feet if no other part of their body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
- Tackle law 14.8a: Other players must remain on their feet and release the ball and the ball-carrier immediately.
- Tackle law 14.8b: Other players must remain on their feet when they play the ball.
- Ruck law 15.12: Players must try to stay on their feet throughout the ruck.
- Maul law 16.9: All other players in a maul must try to stay on their feet.
- 11.3: A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm. Sanction: Penalty.
- 11.4: It is not an intentional knock-on if, in the act of trying to catch the ball, the player knocks on, provided that there was a reasonable expectation that the player could gain possession.
- Referees should use good judgement when deciding if a player has a reasonable expectation of catching and gaining possession, and then in determining a sanction.
My Goat Sports 