State of the Union: Why do rugby's laws need changing?

The IRB have been trialling new law variations during the Super 14 tournament and are set to introduce these into world rugby union later this year.

The first meetings will be held next week with plans to introduce the laws by November. They have made these changes to make the ref’s job easier at the breakdown and to improve the game's watchability by making it flow more and reducing lengthy stoppages following penalties.

As a result most infringements are to be downgraded from penalty offences to free kicks - unless those offences constitute foul play.

Players breaking off a scrum, for example, will now be penalised with a free kick (unless it is repetitive) as it is not deemed as “foul play” (not sure about that one).