Welsh rugby to trial six-point tries

The Welsh Rugby Union will trial six-point tries and also reducing penalties and drop-goals reduced from three points to two. Photo / Getty

Six-point tries are set to be trialled in Welsh rugby's Principality Premiership this season.

The trial, which has been given a green light by the Welsh Rugby Union board but is subject to World Rugby approval on Thursday, will also see penalties and drop-goals reduced from three points to two.

A penalty try, meanwhile, will be an automatic eight-point score, with no conversion taken.

Tries were increased from four points to five in 1992, and the latest addition is designed to test whether a more open and attacking game ensues, with increased ball in play time and fewer penalty attempts at goal.

Saturday's Premiership season opener between Llanelli and Pontypridd will be the first game in Wales that could feature a six-point try. The trial will cover Premiership and Challenge Cup fixtures.

Other trialled law changes announced by the WRU for their premier club competition will include any uncontested scrums having to involve eight players from each team, and if time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty is awarded, the referee will allow play to continue and a lineout allowed to take place if a team kicks to touch from a penalty.

WRU head of rugby Josh Lewsey said: "I am delighted the Welsh Rugby Union is taking a lead in the world game in regards to these law trials.

"Internally, we were already exploring innovative ways in which we could increase 'ball in play time', the focus on skill acquisition and match intensity.

"As such, these law trials are a superb fit for our intentions."

And WRU national match officials manager Nigel Whitehouse added: "We will be working alongside World Rugby, so this will be a detailed and focused process across the whole of the season ahead.

"As well as observing the games, we will be taking feedback from everyone involved to feed into our conclusion process.

"The results of the trial will then be fully assessed before any decisions are made about the long-term scoring system for the entire game."

-AAP