New Law Trials for 2022

There’s a number of exciting new laws to keep an eye out for in Club Rugby, as New Zealand Rugby introduces both the Global Law Trials and a number of Experimental Domestic Safety Law Variations (EDSLVs) into our game.  

The Global Law Trials are those laws you would have seen in action at the professional level, with these laws now being trialed across the community game. They bring exciting opportunity to the club game, with the 50-22, the goal line dropout and additions to the tackle & ruck area. These laws will create a range of new possibilities in our game, bringing a range of new tactical thinking to the game.  

Domestically, New Zealand Rugby has introduced a number of new EDSLVs that will apply across the range of grades in Canterbury. Across all grades are two scrum changes. At scrum time, a 1.5m maximum push will be in place, unless within 5 metres out from the goal line. This maintains the ability to have push over scrums, and it’s hoped this will improve the scrum stability and reduce the frequency of resets at scrum time.  

That is also the hope of the second scrum change, with reset scrum following no infringements now resulting in the feeding team being offered uncontested scrum or free kick. This new law variation will allow more playing time, reduce the risk of scrum injuries and provide tactical variety, similar to that seen at Barbarians level perhaps!  

Below Premier and Division 1 level, halfbacks will no longer be able to venture past the tunnel on the opposition feed and Game On will continue to apply as we look to get more people out on to the field.  

For more information on these law changes and additional ones for the Teenage and Junior space, please click here.