New Laws to look out for in 2023

In 2023, there are three new Experimental Domestic Safety Law Variations, or EDSLVs as they are more commonly referred to as, to look out for this season.

The main EDSLV sees a reduction in the tackle height to below the sternum upon first contact across all community grades. The first tackler must tackle below the sternum and target the belly area. The second tackler can legally tackle below the shoulders in accordance with current rugby law.

Feedback from community grades trialling the reduced tackle height in the 2022 season found that 78% of participants believed it improved the tackler’s safety, 72% thought there were more opportunities for offloads and 73% felt it made the game faster.

The other EDSLVs are found at scrum time, including the only Global Law Trial initiative from World Rugby.

Non-Premier grades will have a maximum scrum push of 1.5m, across the whole field. Premier grades in Canterbury, our Bascik Transport Premier and Luisetti Seeds Division 1 competitions, will return to full scrums in line with World Rugby and the DSLVs.

The halfback of the team not in possession must remain 1 metre from the tunnel of the scrum and may not advance past the tunnel until the scrum has ended. If they start at the tunnel of the scrum, they can move back to the line to the No 8’s foot, and is permitted to roam along that line, touch line to touch line.

After a successful trial across non-premier senior and teenage rugby in 2022, restrictions around the defending halfback at scrums will now be extended to include all grades of community rugby, including premier senior club and First XV school rugby. This is also being used at Super Rugby Level.

The only Global Law Trial in play this season will see Hookers being required to have one foot forward as the scrum sets up, which acts as a brake on the scrum until the call of ‘Set’ in the engagement sequence, removing axial loading on the necks and heads of front row players.

The EDSLVs from 2022 relating to the Reset Scrum and the High Ball Contact do not apply this year, while the Global Law Trials from 2022 were made into full law from July 2022.