Law 3.4: Players nominated as substitute
23 players allowed in international matches (test matches only)
Law 4: Players clothing
The use of GPS equipment will continue.
Law 4.2 Special Additional items of clothing for women
Female players may wear cotton blend long tights under their shorts.
Law 4.3 studs
The single stud in front of a boot is allowed as long as it complies to regulation 12 of the IRB. See below sketch.
Law 6.A.6 (b) Referee consulting others.
The TMO trial as played in CC last year to be played in 2013. Awaiting final answer from IRB and SANZAR.
Law 9.B.1 Taking a conversion kick
The kick must be taken within 1 minute and thirty seconds (ninety seconds) of a try being scored, even if the ball rolls over and is placed again. (Referees to be vigilant with opposition players delaying the ball by throwing it into touch or similar)
Law 12.1 Outcome of a knock-on or Throw forward
Knock-on or throw forward into to touch. When the ball goes into touch from a knock-on or throw forward, the non-offending team will be offered the choice of a lineout at the point the ball crossed the touch line, or a scrum at the place of the knock-on or throw forward. The non-offending team may exercise this option by taking a quick throw-in.
Law 16.7 Unsuccessful end to a ruck
When the ball is available to be played in a ruck the referee will call “use it”. The team then has 5 seconds to clear/use it or risk conceding a scrum to the opposition.
Law 19.2 Quick Throw-in
For a quick throw-in, the player may be anywhere outside the field of play between the line of touch and the player’s goal line.
Law 20.1 (g) Forming a scrum
The referee will call “crouch” then “touch”. The props touch as before and withdraw their arms. The referee will then call “set”.
Law 21.4 Penalty and Free Kick options and requirements
Lineout Alternative. A team awarded a penalty or a free kick at a lineout may choose a further lineout, they throw-in. This is in addition to the scrum option.
@Westers: They say that on average in an 80 minute game the ball is only in play for 24 minutes.
The scenario you mention could result in a game of 80 minutes taking 2 hours if the teams waste time during every kick at goal resulting in TV slots running out at the top end and School matches starting much later than planned at the bottom end.
Why not stop the clock as soon as a team signals a kick at poles or when a try is scored. Start the clock again from the kick off if a try is scored or when the kick is taken if it is a penalty.
Thirteen kicks at goal in a match and almost a quarter of the match time is used up.
Just a thought.
@Queenian: Agreed, although I seldom have qualms when the big Landbou boys do them
@Ploegskaar: You right there i just battle with this maul thing at school boy rugby level were at lower age groups you find big difference between the size of forwards and in the process makes smaller teams un-competive.
@rugbyfan: According to Andre Watson’s explanation a few years ago the maul is basically viewed (and reffed) similar to a scrum, where there are also players in front of the ball when the scrum is moving forward while the ball is at the 8th man’s feet. Sort of makes sense, but IMO players should be blown more frequently for split-second detachments.
@GreenBlooded: Ye thats about right but still the rolling maul has its pro,s and cons
@rugbyfan: The time was previously 1 minute so it has actually been extended. Although having said that, the previous law as 1 minute from the signal of intent to take the kick – now it is 90s from the try being scored. Probably ammounts to the same thing in practice but now the scoring team cannot have a 5 minute team talk before takign the kick which strictly speaking was allowed before although very few refs would have allowed it.
The rolloing maul is not obstruction if the ball carrier does nto physically disengage from the maul. Players are allowed to shift position in the maul if they have joined legally and are bound in. I think the law is right – but perhaps it is not being strictly applied?? Another misconception is whne the defenders disengage and the attackers trundel down field in maul formation unopposed with the ball carrier at the back. This is also not obstruction because the maul does not end because the defenders disengage. Offside lines remain in place so their only means of stopping it is to re-engage from behind the offside line.
Not sure why they do not look at the rolling maul as all this constitutes is legal obstruction.
1 minute 30 seconds for a conversion seem rather fast