World Rugby: New laws to be trialled worldwide

Four new laws aimed at making rugby union faster and more entertaining will be tested around the world from the start of next year.

Kickers will only be allowed to take 60 seconds over a conversion, in line with the one-minute ‘shot clock’ that already exists for penalties.

Elsewhere crooked line-out throws will not be penalised if the opposition does not contest the ball and, like scrums, match officials will form up the set-piece within 30 seconds.

Scrum-halves will also be given more protection around scrums, rucks and mauls to ensure a supply of cleaner, quicker ball and faster phases of play.

The laws have been already been tested in a series of World Rugby events, including the summer’s U20 World Championship and the Pacific Nations Cup.

A decision on 20-minute red cards – where an offending player can be replaced with another off the bench after 20 minutes – has been delayed until after the autumn.

A version of the system is being trialled in the current set of autumn internationals after it was used in this year’s Rugby Championship involving South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia.

France and Ireland expressed concern about its possible permanent adoption before the autumn matches started.