World Rugby has introduced four new rules to be tested in 2025 as it attempts to make rugby union faster and more appealing to fans.
One of the rules is to give kickers a 60-second window to take their conversion, matching the time limit already set for penalties.
Another alteration means that crooked line-out deliveries will not be ruled against if the opposition does not contest the line-out. Line-outs will now be set up within 30 seconds by match officials.
At scrums, mauls and rucks, scrum-halves will be afforded more protection in order to speed up the game by allowing players in the position to move the ball on quicker.
According to the BBC, the moves were made after the World Cup in France, which spectators found to have too many extended periods of kicking exchanges.
These laws have been previously tested at various World Rugby events, such as the Pacific Nations Cup and this year’s U20 World Championship.
Another proposed change, 20-minute red cards, will not be introduced until at least after the autumn.
The 20-minute red cards see players dismissed for technical foul play not done deliberately, after which their teams can send on a different player in their place.
The change is being used in the current Autumn Nations Series, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and was also trialled in the 2024 Rugby Championship.
France and Ireland raised concerns about 20-minute red cards before the Autumn Nations Series, with Ireland wanting to keep the option of a permanent red card, and France saying the move was harmful for player safety.
As a result of the criticism, World Rugby said that it would delay a decision so it could receive “further feedback and full data analysis to be considered.”
Some other changes that were trialled have now been abandoned.
One change was that teams were required to play the ball after a driven maul stopped once instead of twice. Another allowed players to mark the ball within the 22 from a restart.
Watch every moment of the Autumn Nations series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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