2023 Law Updates including NZ Rugby Game Innovations (EDSLVs)

 Law

2023 Law Updates

Going into the 2023 Community Rugby season, there are a number of tweaks and edits to law which are important for all participants to be across. World Rugby released two Global Law Trials which now come into effect here, along with a raft of Law Application Guidelines for current law. NZ Rugby has refined its EDSLVs down to three and set these in place for 2023. Read below for everything you need to know.

In this Law Update...

Held on Monday 20th March - A brief unpacking of the World Rugby Global Law Trials and NZ Rugby Experimental Domestic Safety Law Variations - what they are, who they apply to, why they are being implemented, and other key thoughts for each law. View the video here.

Global Law Trials 2022/23

World Rugby's previous Global Law Trials were all adopted into full law, and this year has two trials which now come into effect for the Community Game in New Zealand.

1. Adding brake foot to scrum engagement

  • New law, applicable to all grades where scrums are contested.

2. Restrictions on water carriers and medics including an on-field penalty sanction

  • In Bay of Plenty we have always had strict Competition Rules which control water carriers and medics. This trial does not add much new other than these personnel now being subject to a penalty should they interfere with the game or direct comments towards a Match Official.

View detail of these trials, including example videos on the World Rugby Global Law Trials Page. Also view the aritcle on these and other 2022 law adoptions in this article - World Rugby Global Law Trials for 2022/23.

Law Application Guidelines - January 2023

In January World Rugby released its latest Law Application Guidelines. While some only relate to the High Performance game, the following in particular relate to our Community game:

  • Speeding up the game
    • Conversions - must be taken within 90sec of try being scored
    • Penalty kicks - must be taken within 60sec of indicating the kick at goal
    • TIme wasting - sanctioned with a Free Kick
    • Lineouts - must be formed without delay
    • Scrums - players must be ready to "crouch" within 30sec of the mark being made
  • Negative Player action
    • e.g. trapping players into rucks, jacklers not playing the ball, walking away with the ball at a PK
  • Players on the ground
    • Player using the ground to stabilise themselves briefly with their hands is acceptable, but any player using the ground to support their bodyweight further than this is not legal.
  • Deliberate knock ons
    • Players must endeavour to catch the ball and there be a reasonable expectation they could have gained possession, otherwise the knock-on is deemed deliberate.

Read the full detail of the above Law Application Guidelines, with video examples on the World Rugby Law Application Guidelines Page.

Experimental Domestic Safety Law Variations

Three game innovations (EDSLVs) will be trialed in the 2023 community rugby season, aimed at improving player safety and flow of the game.

These game innovations were developed by NZR through a series of successful trials in Provincial Union competitions throughout the 2022 season, following an in-depth assessment which took into consideration game footage, key metrics and participant feedback.

A brief outline of the EDSLVs are below. Follow these links for more info:

Several EDSLVs from 2022 are discontinued. If previous EDSLVs are not listed below, then they are no longer a part of law.

1. Reduced tackle height to below the sternum targeting the belly area for all community rugby grades

The first tackler must tackle below the sternum and target the belly area. The second tackler can legally tackle below the shoulders in accordance with current rugby law - click here for details.

2. Defensive halfback offside at scrum for all community rugby grades

The halfback of the team not in possession must remain 1 metre from the scrum and may not advance past the tunnel until the scrum has ended - click here for details.

3. Maximum 1.5 metre scrum push for all community rugby, excluding senior premier club rugby grades

The maximum push of any scrum is limited to 1.5 metres, unless the scrum is within 5 metres of the goal line. Please note: Small Blacks rugby at U12 and U13s is already limited to a maximum 0.5 metre scrum push and Teenage rugby is also limited to a maximum 1.5 metre scrum push - click here for details.

 


Article updated: Thursday 16 February 2023

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