World Rugby approved a raft of new laws and has announced trial laws which are being tested at the 2024 U20 Championship and Trophy tournaments in South Africa and Scotland respectively – the latter includes Japan and Hong Kong China.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The World Rugby U20 Championship and Trophy play a huge role in developing the next generation of global superstars. In keeping with the next generation mantra, we are excited to be using these competitions to trial new law variations, each determined to increase fan appeal by increasing ball in flow.”
In addition to the laws below, the U20 Championship will also use Smart mouthguards as part of the player welfare commitments from the governing body – which will ensure players who need to be, are examined by a doctor as quickly as possible.
Both competitions will operate the full Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process.
New Rugby Laws – World Rugby U20 Trophy & Championship 2024
World Rugby announced that the World Rugby U20 Trophy and Championship 2024 will feature the three new law amendments implemented to promote ball in flow and diversity of attacking options while supporting player welfare.
- A change of onside from kicks in open play. Players will now be deemed offside when an opposition player catches the ball and runs five metres, or passes the ball. Offside players must now make an attempt to retreat to be put back onside.
- Teams can no longer take a scrum from a free-kick. Free-kicks must either be tapped or kicked to encourage more ball in flow.
- Players can no longer roll and twist another player in the tackle area (also called as the “crocodile roll”) and the action will now be sanctioned by a penalty.
TMO (Television Match Official) Trial Process
The TMO process trial will be:
- The TMO will have the power to identify clear and obvious infringements in the final attacking passage of play before scoring (for example – knock on, forward pass and in touch) and within the final two phases specifically (offside, maul obstruction and tackle complete) – Previously, the TMO could only intervene on infringements within the final two phases.
- The referral can be made by any member of the team of four match officials.
- All other aspects of the existing protocol will apply.
Trial Rugby Laws 2024
A package of six law trials will also operate – approved by the World Rugby Executive Board and more can be read about these closed law trials here.
- A player receiving a red card can be replaced by another player after 20 minutes. The red-carded player cannot return to the field. They will follow automatic off-field red card sanctions unless it is deemed a serious act of foul play which will go to a disciplinary hearing.
- Teams will have 30 seconds for setting scrum and lineout and a maximum of 60 seconds for conversions which aligns with the time allowed for penalty kicks at goal.
- The nine (scrumhalf) can’t be played while the ball is still near a tackle, ruck or maul. The offside line at the scrum for the non-putting in scrum-half will be the middle of the tunnel. This should create cleaner play and keep the ball in flow for longer.
- Teams can now mark the ball inside the 22m area from a restart.
- Teams must play the ball after the maul has been stopped once, not twice.
- If a lineout is not straight but uncontested (i.e. no pod lifted to compete), play will continue.
International Rugby Tournaments 2024
- 2024 World Rugby U20 Trophy – Teams & Fixtures Guide.
- 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship Guide.
- Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Rugby Sevens Pools.
- WXV 2024 Details Confirmed – WXV 3 Heads Back To Dubai.
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