On August 1, World Rugby put into effect 5 new Global Law Trials. These trials focus on adding dynamism into the game, as well as player safety. You can access the trial information at https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/global-law-trials
The Global Law Trials will be in place across all countries and all levels of play- we need to be aware of these, and enforce them uniformly.
We held a region-wide Zoom call about this last week- you can access that here:
Passcode: A!5tW8m^
The Trials include:
- 50:22- “If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.”
- This can take place off a lineout or a scrum that originates in the defensive half of the pitch
- This cannot take place off a dropout, FK, or restart
- Goal line Drop out- “If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.”
- Knock on must take place in in-goal; a knock on that occurs in the field of play then goes into in-goal will still be a 5m scrum
- 22m drop out will still take place if:
- ball is kicked by attacking team and goes dead on its own through in-goal (touch-in-goal or past dead ball line);
- scrum option also available
- an unsuccessful kick at goal (even if grounded dead by defense);
- a kick is charged down by defense, made dead by kicking team
- ball is kicked by attacking team and goes dead on its own through in-goal (touch-in-goal or past dead ball line);
- drop out can be taken anywhere in in-goal
- defending team must immediately retire behind “sanction line” (i.e. 5m)
- kick must go beyond 5m and not go directly into touch (re-kick or 5m scrum option)
- defending players cannot cross 5m line (FK)
- Flying Wedge- two or more players “latched” onto ball carrier prior to contact with defenders.
- Latched definition: “Bound to a team-mate prior to contact.”
- bound means to the shoulder, not just a hand on a jersey
- Definition says players latched on either side of ball carrier, but World Rugby clarified that it’s illegal to have two or more players latched in any formation
- From Jamie McGregor at USA Rugby:
- the act of running in the wedge is the offense- don’t wait to PK until contact is made
- But if you see the wedge formed in a pick-and-go and the ball hasn’t been payed yet, try to verbally manage with “only one latcher!”
- Latched definition: “Bound to a team-mate prior to contact.”
- Latcher
- A one-player latch is legal, but there will be increased responsibility of the latcher to stay on feet and not prevent a fair contest
- Defending players cannot take out the latcher (PK, playing person off the ball)
- A one-player latch is legal, but there will be increased responsibility of the latcher to stay on feet and not prevent a fair contest
- Jackler Safety
- Gator rolling is still legal, but increased emphasis on rolling player out without making contact with lower legs of jackler
- We need to pay close attention to the player rolling the jackler that they don’t put their body on the jackler’s legs with their chest/torso during the roll
- We also need to be stricter on side entry
- Gator rolling is still legal, but increased emphasis on rolling player out without making contact with lower legs of jackler
New York State Rugby Referees Society 