Major League Rugby is the latest to join what appears to be an initiative to speed up the game at the expense of the scrum.
Tournament organisers said MLR was leading “the charge in evolving the game for fans and players alike, with a focus on creating a faster, more fluid spectacle” and that the new laws were “designed to reduce stoppages and maintain the game’s relentless pace”.
MLR last week announced that it had signed a multi-year deal with ESPN, which may have prompted this move to provide a more “entertaining” game for a new American audience.
Last year, World Rugby announced that teams would no longer be able opt for a scrum when awarded a free kick, with the law coming into effect from 1 July. This has disadvantaged teams like the world champion Springboks whose powerful scrum is one of their biggest weapons.
MORE: ‘Willemse law’ not targeting Boks – URC refs boss
New laws for 2025 MLR:
Law 11.2: Removal of the scrum option on a knock/throw forward into touch.
A knock-on or throw-forward into touch will now result in a lineout only, removing the scrum option to keep the game moving.
Law 12A: Knock or throw forward into in-goal
When the ball is knocked or thrown forward into the in-goal area and grounded by either team, the result will be a goal-line dropout, eliminating the scrum as a restart option.
Law 15.17: Failure to play the ball within five seconds
If a team fails to play the ball within five seconds of the referee’s “use it” call, the sanction will now be a free kick instead of a scrum.
Law 16.17: Unsuccessful end to a maul
If a maul ends unsuccessfully, the restart will now be a free kick rather than a scrum.
Photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
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