Optional law amendments limiting contact in scrums, the number of players in a maul, and the duration of rucks have also been given the green light by the sport's governing body in the hope of reducing the risk of possible transmission of Covid-19 during the pandemic.
World Rugby confirmed the changes but have left national unions to decide whether to adopt the amendments at elite or community level depending on the prevalence of the virus in their territory and the advice from government and public health authorities. There has already been resistance from New Zealand.
