[Scrum] 2016 LAW TRIALS - 3.5 (h) FRONT ROW – REPLACEMENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

[Ian_Cook]

Proposal
If, because of a sending off or injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums. In this case the scrums have to be played with 8 players.

Justification
To discourage a team to go to uncontested scrums. In fact, playing with 14 players and 8 players in the scrum should give the opponents more space for the backs and extra attacking options.

 

[Dixie]

Sensible move to rescind the exception to 20.1(e) - certainly in the pro game. It may be an excessive penalty in the grass roots though - we'll have to see how that plays out.