New laws to be trialled this season

The WRU has today confirmed that experimental laws will be trialled in the Principality Premiership (including the Challenge Cup but NOT the Swalec Cup) for the coming season.

The main changes will be as follows:

Points values

Try – 6 points
Conversion – 2 points
Penalty – 2 points
Drop goal – 2 points
Penalty try – 8 points (no conversion required)

Bonus points

A team scoring 4 tries will gain a bonus point
A team losing but by 8 or less points will gain a bonus point

Front row replacements and substitutions

If, because of a sending off or an injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums. In this case the scrums have to be played with 8 players.

Time regulations

If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue. If time expires and a player then kicks to touch from a penalty kick anywhere in the playing area, the referee allows the throw in to be taken, and play continues until the next time that the ball becomes dead.

Kick off and restarts

Kick off sanction is a free kick at the centre of the half way line.

The changes will commence in the first round of Premiership matches this weekend.