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World Rugby will make major changes to the goal of speeding up play and punishing time-wasters… with shot clocks, stricter water breaks and fewer replays on the big screen as part of radical reshuffle
- World Rugby will introduce a number of new changes to the laws from 1 January 2023
- The changes are aimed at speeding up the game and punishing time wasters.
- Countdown clocks for kickers are part of next year’s sweeping shakeup
World Rugby has released a plan to speed up the game and will introduce a number of new law changes from 1 January.
Countdown clocks for kickers, both in stadiums and on the TV screens of those watching from home, are part of a sweeping shakeup of the sport’s governing body.
Kickers have 90 seconds to take a conversion and 60 seconds for penalties, which will be penalized under the new rules.
Big changes will be introduced to avoid wasting time and speed up the game starting January 1, including shot clocks, fewer water breaks, and making referees less reliant on TMO.
A shot-on-target clock will come into effect for the Six Nations starting on February 4
There is already a clock for shots on goal in the French Top 14 and in Sevens, and it will be in effect for the Six Nations, which begins on February 4.
Referees have also been told to place less trust in the televised match referee and teams will have 30 seconds to prepare for a scrum.
They will be penalized if they fail to do so or are late in forming the lineouts. Water breaks will also be limited to after a trial has been scored.