Welfare-focused law trials approved for global trial

50:22:

This law trial is intended to create space via a tactical choice for players to drop out of the defensive line in order to prevent their opponents from kicking for touch, reducing impact of defensive line speed

The Trial:
If the team in possesion kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents'22, they will throw in 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.

Primary intention:
To encourage the defensive team to put more players in the backfield, thereby creating more attacking space and reducing defensive line speed.

Law Links:
Law 18.8a

Goal-line drop out:

This law trial is intended to reduce the number of scrums, reward good defence, encourage counter-attacking and increase the rate of ball in play

The Trial:
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.

Primary intention:
To encourage variety in attacking play close to the goal line and to increase ball in play time by replacing a scrum with a kick that must be taken without delay. An opportunity for counter attack is also created.

Law links:
Law 12 (restart kicks section)
Law 21.16

Welfare-focused breakdown law amendments approved for global trial

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

The Trial:
To sanction the three person pre-bound mini-scrum by redefining the flying wedge.

Primary intent:
To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players.

Law Links:
New definition of 'Latched'
Amended definition of 'flying wedge'
Deletion of definition of 'cavalry charge'
Law 9.22

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

The Trial:
To introduce a sanction for clean outs which target or drop weight onto the lower limbs.

Primary intention:
To reduce injury risk to the player being cleaned out.

Law links:
New definition of 'jackler
Law 9.20

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

The Trial:
To recognise the potential for 1-player pre-latching prior to contact, but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet.

Primary intention:
To be more consistent in the management of the 1-person pre-latched player.

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