No straight throws allowed, time limit… what are these new rules that come into force in rugby?

World Rugby has taken advantage of the new year to implement new rules that will take effect from the weekend of January 10 in France and Europe.

New experimental rules promoted by World Rugby and intended to make the game more fluid will be applied from the 3rd day of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup pools, the competition organizer announced on Friday December 3.

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“Following World Rugby's decision to implement experimental global rules in all competitions starting from 1 January 2025, EPCR confirms that these experimental rules will be adopted from the third day of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup”, the body announced in a press release.

From 10 January, a 60-second time limit will be put in place to take a conversion, in order to align it with that of penalties, as well as a 30-second time limit for preparation for throw-ins, in order to align it with that of scrums.

It will also be possible to play an uncontested lineout, even when the throw is not straight, which previously gave rise to a scrum. Finally, scrum-halves will be better protected behind scrums, rucks and mauls. The opposing scrum-half will thus be prohibited from “following” the 9 of the team who introduces the scrum, he will have to stop at the level of the first lines.

Promoted by World Rugby in order to “encourage speed, space and contest phases, and improve the experience of fans and players”, these rules will also be in place for the Six Nations Tournament, which begins at the end of January. In France, they will be applied from the 15th day of Top 14 and the 18th day of Pro D2 (January 23 to 26).