World Rugby have announced they will release a new, more simplified law book from January 1, 2018 designed to make the laws easier to understand.
The book is set to be 42 percent shorter than the current version and is said to be more logically laid out and clearer to understand with repetitions and contradictions removed, while not altering the meaning or changing how the game is played.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "As our game continues to grow around the world, we continue to strive to make the sport as accessible to all. The laws can be difficult to understand for new participants and fans and the new law book goes a long way towards simplifying it and making it easier to understand for players, coaches, referees and the viewing public."
The updated law book took nearly two years to develop with a specially constituted eight-person group of experts, including law experts, referees and a sports scientist, which used feedback from World Rugby's 121 member unions all six regional associations.