Five confirmed changes and guidelines to have big impact on 2023 Six Nations

Patrick McCarry

No more hanging about.

World Rugby is pressing its officials on a number of changes and measures that it hopes will speed up games in the 2023 Six Nations, and beyond.

Ever since the 2021 Lions Tour, World Rugby have been looking into ways, with stakeholders and players past and present, to improve the professional game. Ahead of the Six Nations championship, which starts this weekend, it has driven home existing laws to its’ officials and introduced law application guidelines.

Members of the broadcast media were briefed on these changes, and guidelines, on Tuesday in an attempt to spread the message to viewers of the games. In short, this will be the big push over the coming weeks:

Conversions to take no longer than 90 seconds after try being awarded (or else kick will be disallowed)
Penalty kick must be taken within 60 seconds of it being awarded (or else kick will be disallowed)
Time-wasting to be cut down on and no more huddles before lineouts. Scrums must be ready to form within 30 seconds of mark being made (Sanction for time-wasting: free kick)
Less reliance on Television Match Officials and ‘limit replays where not necessary’
Water carriers limited to two per team and only allowed on pitch after try scored (or a natural break in a try-less game)

To take a closer look at the guidelines and World Rugby priority areas, here is what former Leinster and Ireland player Bernard Jackman shared.

Excellent Media briefing this am with @WorldRugby ahead of the opening weekend of the @SixNationsRugby. Big focus on speeding up the game and there will be no more huddles pre-lineout with the sanction being a free kick. Less TMO interactions & less Water Carriers. pic.twitter.com/2X4I6cUVKC

— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) January 31, 2023