Munster captain Tadhg Beirne hits out at new laws: 'They may as well wrap the 9s up in cotton wool'

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne branded some of rugby's latest law changes "ridiculous" and reckons those in charge want to get rid of scrums.

Last weekend’s European games saw a number of new rules in place with extra protection for the scrum-half chief among the complaints for the Ireland forward.

A player who is, or was part of the ruck or maul may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away, according to new laws.

Additionally, crooked throws where the lineout is not contested will go unpunished in an effort to reduce the number of scrums.

"They may as well wrap the 9s up in cotton wool at this stage. It's becoming ridiculous, in my opinion," Beirne (above) said following his team’s 17-12 Champions Cup pool win over Saracens.

"I was just joking, I said to Murr [Conor Murray, 35-year-old Ireland and Munster scrum-half], there's another five years left in his career yet.

"I showed a few videos to referees this week and it was a bit like, 'hmm I'm not sure on that one'.

"It's making life more difficult for them in terms of that law, in terms of you can't touch the 9 within a metre of the ruck.

"When's the ruck over, when's the ball out, when can you come through the ruck?

"It's worse for me because it's something I like to do so obviously I'm not going to like it.

"The 9s are probably delighted with it.

"Look, not straight in the lineout, people will like that, it brings more flow into the game but I just [feel] they just don't want scrums in the game."

A 20-minute red card rule was trialled during the Autumn Nations Series but that has been shelved, while a 60-second shot clock for kicks, and lineout clocks (30 seconds), are now in force to speed up the set-piece.

Prior to the November