World Rugby is considering lowering the height of tackles in elite competition and trialing 20-minute red cards globally as part of a radical plan to broaden the sport’s appeal.
The governing body will also look at the possibility of reducing the number of substitutes and re-evaluate the use of television match officials to speed up play and improve the viewing experience.
The plan, which will be implemented in five phases, was launched at last month’s World Rugby Game Shape Forum and is aimed at making the game more entertaining. More immediate changes include cracking down on the use of water carriers, encouraging referees to shout “use it” and ensuring scrum halves are played faster from rucks, but World Rugby’s long-term advice could have a significant impact on the game. game.
An expert working group will be set up to assess the results of the 11-league community tackle height trial and “consider the suitability for elite rugby”. When the Rugby Football Union first announced the lowering of tackle heights in early 2023, there was mixed news about how much the threshold would be lowered, causing uproar. The trial has been far more successful than its introduction, but making changes at an elite level would bring huge changes to the professional sector of the sport.
The introduction of the 20-minute red card – where a player who is sent off is not allowed to return to the pitch but is replaced after 20 minutes – will be voted on at the World Rugby Board of Governors meeting in May as part of a comprehensive review of the disciplinary and sanctions process. The practice has proven popular in the southern hemisphere and prevents games from being ruined by controversial red cards, such as the one shown to Freddie Stewart when England lost to Ireland last year. Opponents of the measure worry that introducing looser sanctions in ongoing head injury litigation would send the wrong message.
Another working group will also be tasked with studying the impact of fatigue and the number and timing of substitutions in elite matches “to identify options that might create more space on the pitch while improving injury rates”. Eddie Jones is one of the senior figures in the industry to support reducing substitutes, and, importantly, so is World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.
World Rugby also wants to overhaul the TMO protocol, which has been widely criticized for bringing too many long pauses to the game. As recently as last Saturday, questions were being raised over the TMO’s decision to intervene and bring Ben Earl’s armless tackle to the referee’s attention, which France ultimately beat England to earn the winning point.
World Rugby also wants to consider “new minimum standards for technology providers” after many complained about the inability to provide or broadcast replays during the Six Nations. The task force will also conduct a major review of safety and landscape issues related to the failure.
Starting on Tuesday, as part of the first phase of the plan, players will be expected to use the ball more quickly when it is anchored in the ruck/break. In effect, it’s an attempt to put an end to the terrible track-type trucks. Hooker will also need to maintain a full braking foot to aid stability and safety during the fight, while measures will be taken to limit the number of times water carriers can enter the playing field.
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World Rugby has also proposed rubber-stamping changes to some laws in May, including closing a loophole – known as “Dupont’s Law” – aimed at “reducing the kicking of tennis”. Current relevant laws stipulate that once the receiver passes the ball or moves five meters with the ball, the player in front of the kicker will be judged to be on the field. France’s Antoine Dupont had exploited this in the past, but doing so would lead to lengthy battles. Removing the scrum option from the scrum free ball and banning the “crocodile roll” are also among the recommended amendments.
Unions and tournament owners will be encouraged to implement a series of closed legal trials, including the use of a shot clock during scrums and lineouts, marking the ball inside the 22m line from restarts, insisting that a maul must be stopped before a ball can be played, rather than twice, providing better protection for the faceoff half and allowing referees to continue play if the lineout is not straight and uncontested.
“The initiatives we are taking are driven by our commitment to increasing our global impact and a desire to be better,” Beaumont said. “That means being bold, embracing change by increasing entertainment value, and making our Stars make it more accessible and simplify the terminology and language used to explain rugby to those who have not yet fallen in love with it. We are moving fast. It will take exceptional unity and commitment from the entire sporting community to present a package of improvements to the Council in May. I Looking forward to the discussion.”
