World Rugby confirms changes as so-called 'Dupont Law' binned

World Rugby has confirmed three new law changes which will be effective from 1 July, with the controversial so-called 'Dupont Law' among those to be changed.

The sport's governing body has rewritten Law 10.7, which refers to being onside and offside from kicks in play, tightening the wording to ensure all attacking players must retreat until they are back onside off a kick.

The loophole in the previous wording had become known as the 'Dupont Law' after the France captain Antoine Dupont exposed the loophole in the previous wording, which allowed players in an offside position advance forward once an opposition player did similar.

That interpretation of the law led to farcical scenes during this year's Guinness Six Nations tie between France and Scotland, where both sets of teams kicked the ball back and forth to each other, as the majority of players stood still in the middle of the pitch, waiting to be played onside.

Under the new wording of the law, players ahead of the kicker must now make an active attempt to retreat until they are put onside.

A World Rugby statement reads: " In a rewrite of Law 10.7 relating to players being put onside from kicks in open play, it will no longer be possible for a player to be put onside when an opposition player catches the ball and runs five metres, or passes the ball.

"Laws 10.1 and 10.4 will make clear that offside players must make an attempt to retreat, creating space for the opposition team to play. This should reduce the amount of kick tennis in the game."

'It was smart by Dupont and everyone is copying it now, but it is an area that they (authorities) will have to change' - @bernardjackman explains the ‘Dupont law’ and its impact on the game #AgainstTheHead pic.twitter.com/pG4OYkCZOM