A statement from the RFRU regarding the GLTs from the 1st Jan 2025:
Dear colleagues,
World Rugby Global Law Trials – 1st January 2025
On 14th November 2024, World Rugby Council agreed to implement the following Global Law
Trials for new competitions/leagues starting after 1st January 2025. In other words, existing
competitions are not affected by these law trials. The Law Trials are:
- Quicker conversions
- A new set time to form a lineout (in line with 30 seconds at the scrum)
- Cleaner play away from the ruck/maul/scrum
- Not straight at uncontested lineout = play on
For information, the following were not approved for progression
- One stop maul
- Mark from a kick off/restart
- 20 minute red card replacement – decision deferred to May 2025
The four new laws will come into effect on 1st January 2025. From that date, they will be
reflected in World Rugby’s digital laws content.
However, to avoid any disruption or unintended consequences to RFU Competitions, The
Laws Sub-Committee agreed that these law trials will only come into effect on 1st July 2025.
Prior to this date, we will be sending out a variety of supporting resources for match officials,
players & coaches
Yours in rugby,
Dr Tim Miller & Michael Patz
