The Board of European Rugby Cup has ratified the introduction of 23-man match day squads for the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup tournaments for 2009/10 season onwards. Now I know the original change did cross this blog when it happened but it is good to see two of the major competitions taking it on board.

This all follows on the recent alteration to Law 3 by the IRB and is aimed at reducing the number of games that go to uncontested scrums and to remove the advantage which one team may gain when uncontested scrums arise.

The alteration can be found under Law 3.15 Union Specific Variations which states the following (courtesy of the IRB website):

3.15 UNION SPECIFIC VARIATIONS
(a) A Union or Unions, where a match or competition is played between teams from two or more Unions, may implement variations to Law 3.4 for matches below international level as set out in (b) and/or (c) below.

(b) When 22 or 23 players are nominated in a team there must be sufficient front row players to play at hooker, tight-head prop and loose-head prop who are suitably trained and experienced to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement in any front row position is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums.

(c) A provision may be introduced that where uncontested scrums are ordered as a result of there being no suitably trained and experienced front row replacement for any reason, the team concerned shall not be entitled to replace the player whose departure caused uncontested scrums.

The ERC said that from this season forward each club’s match day squad now must contain a minimum of three specialist front row players within the named eight replacements comprising two props and a hooker.

It goes further and specifically included the option in Law 3.15(c) which states that if all front row replacements have been utilised during a game, 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.

For the record, as it stands currently, this option is not available for international matches.