The International Rugby Board Council has sanctioned new measures that will allow The RFU to address the issue of uncontested scrums in their domestic competitions.

The move was initiated by the IRB following requests by several Unions to address the issue as there has been an increase in uncontested scrums within some high profile domestic and cross-border competitions in recent years.

An alteration to Law 3 governing the number of replacements permitted in a match came into effect on July 28, 2009 and applies to the Game globally. The alteration allows National Unions with jurisdiction over matches in their territory the option of allowing up to eight named replacements in a match day squad. This will also operate for cross-border club or provincial competitions with the agreement of the respective Unions involved. This has been incorporated into this years Guiness Premiership.

If a Union allows the naming of 23 players in a match day squad for any domestic competition, there must be a minimum of three specialist front row players within the named eight replacements comprising two props and a hooker.

Once all front row replacements have been utilised, and there is a further front row injury, and no fit front row player is available from the original starting team or replacement bench, the injured player will leave the field but may not be replaced. This is a change to the existing Laws and ensures, in playing with 14 men, that a team going to uncontested scrums does not gain an advantage.

See the IRB law change here