That's what you'll see on display at this season's Six Nations , which gets underway in Paris tonight. The next five weeks will provide a glut of rugby for fans to feast their eyes on. The most contentious change, pushed through despite the objections of Ireland and France , will see accidental head contact offences punished less draconically. Plenty of coaches had complained that dismissals for accidental contact had ruined too many games although the Irish and French argued that player safety would be compromised.
Round 1 France v Wales January 31 at 8. Round 2 Italy v Wales February 8 at 2. Round 3 Wales v Ireland February 22 at 2. Round 4 Ireland v France March 8 at 2. Round 5 Italy v Ireland March 15 at 2. The offside line for opponents is now the mid-point of the scrum, rather than the back foot of the No 8. That means scrum halves will now be able to play without pressure as opponents are not allowed within a metre until the ball is out.
Kickers will have 60 seconds to tag on the extra two points, matching the limit for penalty goals. The new offside law , introduced for the Autumn Series and now being used in the Six Nations for the first time, means players are no longer played onside once the opponent under a high ball has made five metres.
My Account. Sign in. Martin Lipton , Chief Sports Reporter. NEW rules, a less severe disciplinary system and even a high-tech improvement. Most read in Rugby Union.
