Rule Changes

Sin-bin - Players will spend 10 minutes in the sin-bin for offences that would have resulted in a caution and a yellow card. These include foul play, professional fouls, dissent and persistent offending. Statistics show that when sides are temporarily reduced to 14 men they concede an average nine points during the 10-minute period.

Scrum - The so-called "use it or lose it" syndrome will now apply. The team deemed responsible for a scrum wheeling through more than 90 degrees will concede possession at the put-in to their opponents.

Tackle Area - The third player at a tackle situation must join the contest for possession from behind the player nearest his own try-line. This is designed to stop players flying in from all angles.

Line-out - Players can pre-grip on their jumpers' jersey before the ball is thrown. For safety reasons, jumpers can be supported from behind on the shorts and from above the knees from the front. Players can now also run in a wider arc from the line-out to change their direction and increase speed of attack. Previously, a player peeling was meant to run parallel with the line-out.