Law Changes for next season
Posted by:
Dave Picken (IP Logged)
Date: 20 June, 2012 11:02
Rolling replacements at our level and below is the most interesting.
. Global Trial of Law Amendments
In recent months, a series of Law amendments have been implemented at matches at Cambridge and Stellenbosch Universities.
The IRB has now sanctioned a global trial of five Law amendments, applicable to both domestic and international competition, to commence in August 2012 in the Northern Hemisphere and January 2013 in the Southern Hemisphere.
The five Law amendments to be trialled globally are:
a. Law 16.7 (Ruck): The ball has to be used within five seconds of it being made available at the back of a ruck with a warning from the referee to “use it”. Sanction – Scrum.
b. Law 19.2 (b) (Quick Throw-In): For a quick throw in, the player may be anywhere outside the field of play between the line of touch and the player’s goal line.
c. Law 19.4 (Who Throws In): When the ball goes into touch from a knock-on, the non-offending team will be offered the choice of a lineout at the point the ball crossed the touch line; or a scrum at the place of the knock-on. The non-offending team may exercise this option by taking a quick throw-in.
d. Law 21.4 (Penalty and Free Kick Options and Requirements): Lineout alternative. A team awarded a penalty or a free kick at a lineout may choose a further lineout, they throw in. This is in addition to the scrum option.
e. A conversion kick must be completed within one minute 30 seconds from the time that a try has been awarded.
We will be providing further guidance to match officials prior to the start of the season.
2. Television Match Official (TMO) Protocol
The IRB has approved a trial to extend the jurisdiction of the TMO to incidents within the field of play that have led to the scoring of a try and foul play in the field of play. The trial will take place in the Aviva Premiership during season 2012-13.
3. Rolling Substitutions
Rolling substitutions are to be permitted at Level 5 and below during season 2012-13. We are in the process of finalising the relevant regulations, after which we will provide guidance to match officials.
