World Rugby

It pointed to trials conducted in France and South Africa, saying they had delivered positive advancements in terms of player safety, while also enhancing overall game experience.

"World Rugby continues to be guided by science and research as part of a relentless focus on reducing injury risk via education, sanction and law change," it said in a statement.

"A reduction in the legal tackle height to below the sternum demonstrates increased safety outcomes while retaining the unique characteristics of the game."

The guidelines have been designed by the global governing body to help match officials, players and coaches, and to improve fan experience following a meeting of stakeholders in November. The World Cup will be held in France next year.

"World Rugby, member unions and competitions will work with broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (stadia and broadcast) shot clocks for penalties and conversions to ensure referees, players and fans can view the countdown," World Rugby director of rugby Phil Davies said in a statement.

London-based law firm Rylands Legal is representing the claimants, which include England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson, former All Black Carl Hayman and ex-Wales captain Ryan Jones.

Many players in the group of more than 180 professional and semi-professional players have also been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease.

Rylands said the class action is being issued on behalf of the majority of those players, with the rest taking legal action soon.

It's the biggest ever win by points in a rugby match between two national representative teams, breaking the former record held by the Wallabies in their 142-0 win over Namibia in 2003 in the men's Rugby World Cup.

Papua New Guinea next play Samoa, who come off the back of a 25-17 win over Tonga.

Fiji have already qualified for the Rugby World Cup next year while Samoa seek to qualify in a repecharge tournament later this year.

Under new criteria, which is implemented in the global elite game from July 1, the vast majority of players diagnosed with concussion are set to miss their next match.

It follows the latest review of scientific evidence and rugby-specific research by World Rugby’s 17-strong independent concussion working group.

Currently, a player who fails a head injury assessment could conceivably feature again the following weekend, provided they follow and pass return-to-play protocols.

With the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the international game, World Rugby has part-funded the franchises to provide an impactful environment and pathway that will ultimately benefit Fiji, Samoa and Tonga on the biggest stage – Rugby World Cup.

The selection of 43 players for the Pacific Nations Cup from Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua is an important step in that journey, providing each union with the benefit of access to a group of players performing in an environment geared towards achieving success at international level.

The June 25 fixture at the Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon will be the first men’s international to have been controlled by an all-women’s team, with Davidson to be joined by assistant referees Sara Cox (England) and Aurelie Groizeleau (France), along with Claire Hodnett (England) as the TMO.

It will also be the first time a female ref has taken charge of a men’s Six Nations team in a test match.

Davidson described it as a “tremendous honour and an achievement I am proud of”.

Erasmus controversially used the role to pass on advice to his team during the British and Irish Lions' series and autumn Tests last year.

"The number of people who aren't players interrupting the flow of the game was getting out of hand," said World Rugby's Mark Harrington.

Head coaches and directors of rugby are explicitly banned from carrying water.

The new rules also state that water carriers will be allowed to come on to the pitch only twice in each half. At other times they must remain in a technical zone on the touchline.

Saracens are credited with creating the new loophole known as ‘crabbing’, a cousin of caterpillar rucking – which still remains legal.

With the caterpillar technique, players join rucks single file, leading to a queue of players behind a ruck. It allows nines to box kick without fear of being charged down by opposition defenders, as they are simply too far away from the scrumhalf to do anything.

Developed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the plan vows to develop “new protocols” for all sports, ranging from the grassroots to the elite level, while a research forum will be set up to address what it sees as “knowledge gaps” in the current system.

“The plan sets out steps that will be taken to improve understanding, awareness, prevention and treatment of concussion in sport in grassroots, educational and elite settings,” the DCMS said in a statement. “This will be through a combination of improved research and the use of new technologies.