World Rugby are examining a series of significant law changes to be tested in closed trials after this autumn’s World Cup.

A three-day player welfare and law symposium in Paris has produced eight new rules designed to improve safety with a particular focus on forcing teams to commit less to defence, thereby reducing the number of collisions.

Among the proposals being considered are a ’50-22′ rugby league-style kicking law that would enable the attacking team to get the put in at a line-out despite having kicked the ball out.

Also under examination is the possibility of upgrading yellow cards to a red upon reviewing the incident while a player is in the sin-bin and also lowering the height of a tackle to below the waistline.

“Rather than just look at the laws to improve the game as a spectacle and then whether it has a player welfare impact, we have tried to devise laws that have a direct player welfare impact,” World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said.

“That’s the first time we’ve looked at it in that sense. This is really about looking at the shape of the game and working out what can actually have a material effect on some of the outcomes we’re having in the injury rates.”

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