World Rugby is reportedly considering dramatic law changes in a bid to kick-start rugby after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The governing body is apparently looking at ways players can minimise time spent in those close-contact situations. The Times reports World Rugby’s Law Review Group has highlighted scrums and mauls as high-risk areas of the game that could be adapted or removed entirely by unions around the world to resume competition.
It is believed that free kicks could replace scrums, mauls would be removed from the game and lineouts could go uncontested.
‘The face-to-face contact in the scrums and rucks is unique and that is what is being looked at closely,’ a source told the newspaper.
‘The idea is to provide options for the professional and the community game below that, particularly if they do not have access to testing,’ the source added.
Photo: World Rugby