Six new laws, but still no scrums

Full details of the law changes can be found on the RFL website

Rugby League will start up again next month with six new laws . . . but still with no scrums.

The RFL has confirmed that the reason for temporarily replacing scrums with handovers, Covid-19, is still relevant, although it is hoped that scrums will be back before the end of the 2021 season.

Six other law changes will be introduced at all levels of the game.

They include flexibility for the attacking team on the lateral placing of scrums; reward for 40/20 kicks; a handover for an incorrect play-the-ball; and the removal of scrums when the ball goes into touch.

Full details of the changes can be found on the RFL website with a link to it on the Roughyeds website in a story headlined: 'Six new laws, but still no scrums'.

The Laws Committee rejected two further proposed changes that will be used in Australia - the 'six again' rule that was introduced in 2020 for ruck offences and the awarding of two points for drop goals from outside the 40-metre line.

Said RFL official Dave Rotheram: "We remain unconvinced by arguments for introducing a two-point drop goal, believing it could discourage teams from seeking to score tries.

"Also, we were not persuaded on the merits of 'six again' to cover ten-metre scrum infringements."

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