Law changes (from August)

Some new trial law changes are coming in from August, to apply to all levels:

• 1. Law 16.7 (Ruck): The ball has to be used within five seconds of it being made available at the back of a ruck following a warning from the referee to “use it”. Sanction – Scrum. 
• 2. 19.2 (b) (Quick Throw-In) For a quick throw in, the player may be anywhere outside the field of play between the line of touch and the player’s goal line. 
• 3. 19.4 (who throws in) When the ball goes into touch from a knock-on, the non-offending team will be offered the choice of a lineout at the point the ball crossed the touch line; or a scrum at the place of the knock-on. The non-offending team may exercise this option by taking a quick throw-in. 
• 4. 21.4 Penalty and free kick options and requirements: Lineout alternative. A team awarded a penalty or a free kick at a lineout may choose a further lineout, they throw in. This is in addition to the scrum option. 
• 5. A conversion kick must be completed within one minute 30 seconds from the time that a try has been awarded.

1 and 5 would seem to be the most noticeable changes - they will certainly have an effect in the professional game, though how much time-wasting (because that is what these changes are designed to eliminate) happens outside of the professional men's game is debatable.

2 seems nothing new, 4 also is really just directed at the men's professional game - but 3 might be interesting. Knock on, ball bounces out, whistle goes and everyone relaxes and prepares for the scrum - only for there to be a quick throw in, and...

Something to be aware of, anyway.