"TMO upgrade"- Five best law changes in rugby union

Here, we take a look at five rule changes that have helped shape a better, faster, and more entertaining modern game.

One of the more recent law tweaks came last year, when World Rugby moved to better protect the scrum-half. Put simply, the “nine” can no longer be played while the ball is still at or near a tackle, ruck, or maul. On top of that, at scrums the non-feeding scrum-half now has to stay on the middle of the tunnel, not creep past it.

The idea is to give scrum-halves a fair chance to clear the ball and keep play flowing, rather than seeing them constantly targeted before they’ve even got their hands on it.

From July 1, 2024, World Rugby officially outlawed the dangerous “crocodile roll” in the tackle area. This includes rolling, twisting, or pulling a player who is still on their feet.

The law change was driven by player welfare, with the technique linked to serious knee and leg injuries. Any use of it now risks penalties or cards. It’s part of a wider push to make the game safer while also speeding things up around the breakdown.

First trialled in 2021, the 50:22 has quickly become a powerful attacking weapon. If a team kicks from inside their own half and the ball bounces in the opposition’s 22 before going into touch, they’re rewarded with the lineout throw.

Fans have seen this used regularly, and for good reason. The law is designed to stretch defences. Knowing the 50:22 is a threat, defensive teams are forced to keep players deep, which in turn creates space further upfield for attackers to exploit.

The introduction of a 60-second shot clock for penalty kicks has added real tension to goal-kicking. Once a team signals their intention to kick, the countdown starts. Miss the time limit, and the kick is disallowed, with a scrum awarded to the opposition.

Conversions still allow 90 seconds, although World Rugby has trialled reducing both penalties and conversions to 60 seconds in some competitions. The visible clock has been a big talking point — some love the added jeopardy, others hate seeing “easy” kicks missed — but it’s undeniably sped the game up.

The Television Match Official was officially introduced in 2001, with trials dating back to the mid-1990s. Its role is to assist referees with big calls, such as grounding for tries and incidents of foul play.

While TMO decisions can still spark debate — especially around consistency and stoppages — it has dramatically reduced clear errors and improved fairness.

Recent upgrades, like the URC’s new independent system this year, are focused on making reviews quicker. And when you compare it to football’s VAR, rugby’s TMO system looks pretty effective by comparison.

12 years have passed since Warren Gatland’s men roared to a famous series win over Australia, but how well do you really remember the iconic 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?

From legendary leaders to surprise selections, we’ve lined up every player from that unforgettable tour. All you have to do is name them. No pressure, right?

Take the quiz below and prove your rugby brain still bites.

? Scroll down and get cracking – how many can you get without cheating?