Rugby Championship rule changes to soften sanctions for red cards, speed game up

The upcoming edition of the Rugby Championship will feature several law variations aimed at speeding the game up and offering softer punishments for certain red card offences, governing body SANZAAR said in a statement.

The southern hemisphere championship starts on Saturday when Australia host world champions South Africa in Brisbane, before New Zealand welcome Argentina to Wellington.

Under the law changes, some red card offences will see a player sent to the sin bin for 20 minutes with the offender then able to be replaced on the field by a teammate off the bench when the punishment has been completed.

However, if the foul play is determined to be deliberate and with a high level of danger the team will be reduced by a player for the remainder of the contest.

In a bid to step up the pace of the game, kickers will have 60 seconds, instead of the previous 90 seconds, to complete a conversion or take a kick at the posts for a penalty.

Scrums must be set within 30 seconds of the referee making the mark for the set-piece with a free-kick awarded against the team who causes a delay.

Teams will have 30 seconds to form a lineout or face a free-kick, while skewed throws will not be punished if the opposition does not contest the set-piece.

More protection will also be given to the scrumhalf, or a player acting in that role, as they clear the ball from a ruck, maul or scrum by creating more space between them and the defending team.