Players can be punished by having a penalty awarded against them for numerous offences.

The IRB wants to change the balance, so most 'technical' offences are penalised by free-kicks which are invariably run rather than kicked to touch. Players cannot go for goal from free-kicks.

"With the exception of foul play (including deliberate/repetitive infringements), all penalties will be free-kicks," said O'Brien.

"If, for example, a player breaks off the scrum, rather than a penalty that decides the match, it's a free-kick - we want players, not referees, deciding matches."