World Rugby Closed Law Trials Implementation

The 2016 World Rugby Pacific Challenge kicked off in Suva, Fiji on Tuesday, with the inclusion  of the Closed Law Trials  set for 2016 by the governing body, World Rugby.

With the promotion of player welfare, law simplification and spectator experience at the core, World Rugby confirmed in September last year that a program of closed trials will being in earnest as World Rugby’s quadrennial law review process continues in 2016.

Every four years, rugby’s governing body undertakes a complete health-check of the game’s playing trends across the Rugby World Cup cycle to ensure that the sport continues to develop at all levels around the world. This extensive process is undertaken with full union consultation and has player welfare, game simplification and fan experience at its core. 

The implementation of the package of law trials by World Rugby , follows detailed analysis and evaluation of union submissions by the specialist Law Review Group (LRG) which reports to the Rugby Committee. This evaluation process also featured specialist input from the Scrum Steering Group (SSG) and the Multi-Disciplinary Injury Prevention Group (MDIPG) over the past year and is the next phase of the law change process. 

Changes in the regulations largely involve scrums player safety the main ultimate reasoning. Other changes include a change in point’s values, six for tries and two for conversions, penalties and drop goals. For a penalty try, teams will be awarded eight points, without the conversion kick.

Play acting or “simulation” will be specifically outlawed in the game in a move that formalizes resistance to a practice that has been creeping into the game in recent years. Any player who dives or feigns injury in an effort to influence the match officials will be liable for sanction. Previously, such offences were covered under the laws covering general acts contrary to good sportsmanship.

World Rugby announced that with the closed law trials kicking-off in Wales and Australia in August with the Principality Cup and National Rugby Championship respectively, 2016 will see other tournaments follow, including a number of World Rugby competitions, namely the Pacific Challenge Cup (March), U20 Trophy (April), Nations Cup (June) and Tbilisi Cup (June), providing valuable data from players, coaches and match officials for the LRG to consider.

World Rugby Pacific Challenge Tournament Director and Oceania Operations Manager Michael Groom who is in Fiji for the tournament says that this important process occurs after every Rugby World Cup.

“World Rugby is committed to continual review and assessment of the laws of the game to ensure that rugby is enjoyable to watch and play and is as safe to play as possible at all levels, from the elite, professional tier right down to community and youth rugby. This important process occurs after every Rugby World Cup and is an opportunity to take stock, review the laws, drawing on expert input and make changes where needed with those who play and support the game and ongoing prosperity of the sport in mind. It is great to see our unions and associations making such a strong contribution to this process, while the level of expertise and discussion from our expert group when considering the submissions was very impressive. While this is not a fait accompli, we are excited by the package of trials and look forward to detailed coach, player and fan feedback.”