World Rugby has announced 11 law trials which take effect in the northern hemisphere on August 1st.

The trials change the requirements of the tackler, the definition of a ruck, the put in process for a scrum, reverse which team is awarded a lineout if the ball is caught in the field of play while the catcher has a foot in touch, allow a lineout from a penalty that is kicked after time expires, and more.

Please read on for the full text of the changes, view the USA Rugby Presentation (including videos), or schedule a Law Clinic to find out more.

Definitions
Possession – This happens when a player is carrying the ball (or attempting to bring it under control) or the team has the ball in its control; for example the ball in one half of a scrum or ruck is in that team’s possession.

3 Number of Players
Uncontested scrums as a result of a sending off, temporary suspension or injury must be played with eight players per side.

5 Time
If a penalty is kicked into touch after time has elapsed without touching another player, the referee allows the throw-in to be taken and play continues until the next time the ball becomes dead.
To end the half, the ball must be tapped before the kick to touch.

8 Advantage
When there are multiple penalty infringements by the same team, the referee may allow the captain of the non-offending team to choose the most advantageous of the penalty marks.

9 Method of Scoring
Penalty Try. If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded. No conversion is attempted.
Value: 7 points

15 Tackle
The tackler must get up before playing the ball and then can only play from their side of the tackle gate.

16 Ruck
A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground (tackled player, tackler). At this point the offside line is created. A player on their feet may use their hands to pick up the ball as long as this is immediate. As soon as an opposition player arrives no hands can be used.

A player must not kick the ball out of a ruck. Sanction: Penalty kick
The player can only hook it in a backwards motion.

18 Mark
To make a mark a player must have one or both feet on or behind that player’s 22-metre line and catch a ball that has reached the plane of the 22-metre line.

19 Touch
If the ball has passed the plane of touch when it is caught, then the catcher is not deemed to have taken the ball into touch.

If the ball has not passed the plane of touch when it is caught or picked up, then the catcher is deemed to have taken the ball into touch, regardless of whether the ball was in motion or stationary.

If a player jumps and knocks the ball back into the playing area (or if that player catches the ball and throws it back into the playing area) before landing in touch or touch-in-goal, play continues regardless of whether the ball reaches the plane of touch.

If a player, with one or both feet on or behind the 22-metre line, picks up the ball, which was outside the 22, or catches the ball in front of the 22-metre line and kicks it directly into touch from within the 22, then that player has taken the ball back inside the 22, so there is no gain in ground.

20 Scrum
No signal from referee.
The scrum must be stable and there must be no delay once the ball has been presented to the scrum.

The scrum-half must throw the ball in straight, but is allowed to align their shoulder on the middle line of the scrum, therefore allowing them to stand a shoulder width towards their side of the middle line.

Once the ball touches the ground in the tunnel, any front row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball. One player from the team who put the ball in must strike for the ball.
Sanction: Free-kick

Allow the number eight to pick the ball from the feet of the second-rows.

22 In Goal
If a player with one or both feet on or behind the goal line picks up the ball from within the field of play, or catches the ball in front of the goal line, that player has taken possession of the ball in the field of play.

If a player with one or both feet on or behind the dead ball line picks up or catches a ball that has not reached the dead ball line, or touch-in-goal line, that player is deemed to have made the ball dead.