World Rugby will encourage elite competitions to have a shot clock for penalties and conversions from January 1 as part of plans to speed up the game in 2023 – a World Cup year.
Teams risk being penalised with a free kick against them if they waste time or are too slow to form a lineout or a scrum.
The guidelines have been designed by the global governing body to help match officials, players and coaches and to improve fan experience following a meeting in November.
The eyes of the world will be on France in September for the start of the World Cup and World Rugby wants to enhance the game as a spectacle, which is often slowed down by breaks in play to reset scrums or for TMO consultations.
“World Rugby, member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown,” World Rugby Director of Rugby Phil Davies said in a statement.
(Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
World Rugby reminded its officials to apply existing laws, including requiring players to take conversion kicks within 90 seconds from the time a try has been awarded. Any delay could result in the kick being disallowed.
Penalty kicks will have to be taken within 60 seconds from the time a team indicates their intention to do so, with delays resulting in kicks being disallowed and scrums awarded.
Free kicks can be awarded if players waste time, teams fail to form the lineout in time or delay forming the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made.
Match officials were also reminded that the current TMO protocol is aimed at identifying and ensuring clear and obvious offences, such as deliberate knock-ons, are dealt with on-field.
“It was agreed (at the Shape of the Game conference in November) that reviews can often take too long, suggesting the offence being reviewed is not clear and obvious,” Davies said.
“While we can always enhance the technology interaction to speed up the process, the match official teams — led by the referee — should attempt to make speedier decisions and limit replays where not necessary.”
gatesy
Roar Guru
Let's hope so!
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Who is counting off the five seconds after the player is told to use it in lineouts, scrums and breakdowns? Is there a secret fifth member of the refereeing team? Even though I am keen to test this, I could not bear to start a stopwatch every time players are told to use it in five seconds. It always seems longer but I suppose it will in a game.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
100%, it’s too complicated a game already to start adding extra time limits. When the ball is available just use it FFS!
Muglair
Roar Rookie
They need to get rid of timed limits and let the referee call it in the context of the game, and penalise if he is ignored.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Nice username. We bemoan the absence of a hussade page on The Roar!
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
I see a grey area with 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. For kicks at goal there can be no debate. Note this is an existing law, not a new one. So harking back to the Foley incident, how does "....indicated their intention to do so...." fit in that scenario. I guess given where the penalty was awarded it was obvious (9 times out of 10) that there would be a kick for touch. But not necessarily so - it would have been legal for a tap kick 'if they wished'. The question is, in the Foley incident, when did the 60 seconds start? It does seem clear that in that instance the Wallabies were never given the luxury of 60 seconds. Perhaps that explains why Raynal was initially shunted off (in the autumn internationals) to look after a third tier game (Spain and Samoa if I remember correctly) before replacing an injured Nic Berry in a tier one game.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
No Fs. The fact is most of these “changes” have always been there, it’s just that, instead of reffing to all the Laws, the refs have been directed, by WR or other Unions, to concentrate on specific areas in the name of “making the game more attractive to the general public”. Like so much else in the world, another example of dumbing down, finding the lowest common denominator. Yes, it is a complicated game, which adds to its beauty, and is why we love it. But in this professional situation it is up to all involved in the game to know and understand the Laws, play to and enforce all the Laws and educate the general public. That includes the “specialist” commentators who can sadly colour the situation through lack of knowledge (or worse, bias).
cs
Roar Guru
They have medication for that.
terrence
Roar Rookie
has been working well in the mlr last season..
terrence
Roar Rookie
when kicker scores long range try..needs additional 30 seconds to catch breath..
terrence
Roar Rookie
they take more time than that right now..
Cugel
Roar Rookie
If they are given 90s for a conversion, they will take 90s every time. Given 60s for a penalty, they will take 60s. This is what happens in league. Witness a drop out, where the kicker, already in possession of the ball, mucks around until the clock runs down.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Im guessing if you are part of the a move that runs 80m to score - you may need a bit longer to recover .. but then again .. the Sevens players dont seem to have the issue
woodart
Roar Rookie
TMO should only be re-active, not pro-active. keep their mouth shut unless directly asked by ref .
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I don’t think the TMOs will have it in them to keep quiet and out of the game. Most love to hear their own voice on the TV coverage and have ruined many a game.
Tez
Roar Rookie
How about constant scrum resets? If the ball is at the back and can be played, then play on, or just give a free kick to the team with the feed.
Old Rugby Fan
Roar Rookie
That appears to be impossible.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
If this rule had been the case in 2000, Eales wouldn’t have been allowed to take his Bledisloe winning penalty kick, it was about 74secs from whistle blowing to him kicking it. :silly:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
30secs of celebration time? For a penalty, typically the ball is right there or their abouts, but with a Try, the ball is in the in-goal (or crowd) and you’ll be converting 20+ metres out? Gives you time to get the ball and go to wear you kicking? Opposition could be all over the field and even up the other end, depending on the phases before the Try, so gives them time to get in goal, which is typically further than the 10m they need to be onside for a penalty?
JamesD
Guest
Pretty sure this one still stands...A penalty or free-kick must be taken without delay