World Rugby launched a new, condensed law book overnight.
The international body had flagged the introduction of a 42 per cent smaller law book, that had the aim of making laws easier to understand.
This new version of the laws uses graphics often to explain rules, a tool aimed at making some of the more complex rules of rugby immediately easier to explain to those new to the game.
It's a welcome change for the code, with one of the greatest criticisms of the code being its different interpretations or misunderstanding of certain laws of the game.
The book was developed by a group of representatives from various areas, Mark Harrington (World Rugby Head of Technical Services and club head coach), Tappe Henning (Scottish Rugby Union Referee Manager and former international referee), Dr Ross Tucker (sports scientist), Rod Hill (New Zealand Rugby Referee Manager), Chris Cuthbertson (Chairman RFU Laws Committee), James Fitzgerald (World Rugby Media Manager and former international referee), Adam Pearson (web designer/illustrator).
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said the law book would help grow rugby.
“As our game continues to grow around the world, we continue to strive to make the sport as accessible to all," he said.
The laws can be difficult to understand for new participants and fans and the new law book goes a long way towards simplifying it and making it easier to understand for players, coaches, referees and the viewing public.
“This has been a truly collaborative effort with every union given the opportunity to contribute.
:I’d like to thank them and the working group for their full commitment to an extensive and important process. I believe what they have produced will make a big difference to the game as we seek to make rugby more accessible to all.”
