World Rugby have ushered in a series of new directives, with a look to speeding up the game and enhancing the spectacle, ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
The directives are aimed at referees and match officials to strictly adhere to the laws around time wasting, and the time spent setting up for kicks and scrums, as seen below:
- Law 8.8d Conversion. [The kicker] takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed;
- Law 8.21: Penalty Kick: The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded;
- Law 9.7d: A player must not waste time. Sanction Free-kick;
- Law 18.12 Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick;
- Law 19.4 Scrum: Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made. Sanction: Free-kick.
World Rugby Introduces New Directives To Enhance The Game
World Rugby has announced new law application guidelines (directives) aimed at enhancing the flow of the game.
✅Implementation from 1 January 2023
✅Stricter reinforcement of current law
✅enforcement of time limits, shot clocks & breakdown aspectshttps://t.co/KiT20HuXuW— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) December 22, 2022
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World Rugby also issued a statement, explaining the new directives.
"World Rugby have announced a series of law applications which will be implemented game-wide from January 1, 2023.
“The guidelines, which are designed to assist match officials, players and coaches and to enhance fan experience are part of a drive by the international federation to speed up the game and reflect key outcomes of the Shape of the Game conference in November.
"With Rugby World Cup 2023 fast approaching, the new directives are designed to support a quicker, more entertaining game while balancing safety and spectacle.”
The likelihood is that we will see teams caught out by strict refereeing, as the officials will want to make a statement.
However, it is a positive move from World Rugby, and by the time the World Cup rolls around, the amount 'time-off' during a game should be drastically reduced.
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