RUGBY RULES REVAMP

World Rugby is shaking up the laws of rugby union on multiple fronts, and it’s all about speed, safety and spectacle.

A set of global law trials already came into force on 1 January 2025, targeting basics like cleaner scrums and quicker kicks, and now the sport’s governing body is pushing harder toward tackle-law reform that could change how rugby is played at the elite level.

The Global Law Trials, which took effect at the start of 2025, introduced several tweaks to speed up the game: Conversion kicks now must be taken within 60 seconds, lineouts have a 30-second setup limit, ruck and maul players can’t interfere with opponents trying to win the ball, and play continues on a throw that isn’t straight at an uncontested lineout.

These might not sound huge, but they’re designed to keep the ball moving and players engaged.

The most talked-about change, though, is a bold shift in tackling law. After two seasons of global trials in community rugby, World Rugby has approved a closed elite trial of a lower legal tackle height at the sternum.

This trial will debut at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia in 2026, marking the first time this sternum-level rule is used in an elite competition.

Alongside the lowered tackle height, associated measures like sanctioning ball carriers who lead dangerously with their head and allowing double tackles where the first hit is below the sternum, will also be trialled to protect both players and the character of the sport.

World Rugby has stressed that this isn’t a permanent law yet. The U20 Championship trial will be assessed on player welfare, game flow, and feedback before any wider rollout is considered.

Image credit: World Rugby