Clive Leeke gave a presentation at the annual conference introducing the law changes and discussing their application and ramifications. This is a quick summary of that presentation and the discussion.
World Rugby have introduced three Law changes ahead of the 2024-2025 season. These changes came into effect on the 1st July 2024.
The changes cover three laws…
Law 9 Crocodile Roll
Law 10 Offside in front of the kicker
Law 20 Scrum option removed after a Free Kick
If you’ve been watching any of the rugby on TV over the summer, particularly the U20s Championship, you may have seen other law changes being trialled, such as the 20-minute red card or the mark from a kick off. These trials were specific to those competitions and are not to be used in the forthcoming season.
THE CROCODILE ROLL
This has been introduced to increase player safety and minimise the risk of injury at the cleanout.
Laws 9.20d, 9.20e and 14.8 have been amended and a new definition of “Crocodile Roll” has been introduced.
These changes mean that players over the breakdown attempting to “jackal” cannot be cleared-out sideways by twisting their bodies or putting pressure on their lower limbs. The clear-out must the achieved by pushing through the breakdown. Old style counter-rucking is back. Make sure that arriving players from both sides enter through “the gate”.
OFFSIDE IN FRONT OF A KICKER
This has been introduced to counter the closing down of space where players stand still and “loitering” in front of a team mate who has kicked the ball up field, especially near where the ball alights.
Laws 10.1, 10.4 and 10.7 have been amended and a new definition of “loiter/loitering” has been introduced.
These changes mean that players in front of a kicker may no longer stand still and thereby close down the space, they must retire towards their own goal line. The only actions by the kick receiver to bring offside players back into be game (provided they have started to retire) are to play the ball without gaining possession of the ball or to kick the ball. The kick receiver running five meters with the ball in hand or passing the ball to a team mate will no longer bring off side players back into the game. Players in front of the kicker you will remain offside until they are behind the kicker or a team mate who was behind the kicker.
SCRUM OPTION REMOVED AT A FREE KICK
This has been introduced to speed up the game with more “ball-in-play” time.
Laws 20.3, 20.4, 19.1 (row four of the table) and Law 17.6 have been amended.
Teams will no longer be able to opt for a scrum following the award of a free kick. At a mark, if the catcher is injured in making the mark and is unable to take the free kick, a team mate may do so.
The scrum option remains available after the award of a full penalty.
Please see the World Rugby website for full details…
The following links will take you to webpages with videos and demonstrations.
The 2024 Law Book available on the World Rugby website, the Apple Store and Google Store does NOT include these amendments.
A reminder…
The Domestic Law Variations introduced by the RFU prior to the 2023-2024 season will continue into the 2024-2025 season. The tackle height for the community game in England will remain at the sternum. If you need a reminder, see the Documents section of the EMRURS website or the RFU website.
DLV Tackle Height Update
Timothy Wilcox & Clive Leeke
15th August 2024