The video will start in 8 Cancel

Get the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The six-point try experiment is set to be scrapped in the Principality Premiership for the coming season.

A new scoring system was introduced in the Welsh semi-pro league last term as part of a trial by World Rugby, the game’s governing body.

As well as increasing the value of a try from five to six points, the value of penalties and drop goals was reduced from three to two points, while a penalty try was worth eight points with an automatic conversion.

It was the first time the system had been employed in the northern hemisphere, with a trial run also being implemented in New Zealand’s provincial championship last year.

The idea was to encourage more attacking, running rugby and less kicking at goal.

But, in reality, it resulted in teams kicking for the corner a lot more and going for line-out drive tries.

Now the experiment is to be axed, with a return to the normal points scoring system in the Welsh Premiership.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

That’s a decision which has been welcomed by Pontypridd chief executive Steve Reardon.

“It was an experiment which was implemented by World Rugby and the WRU and the Premiership clubs accommodated that,” he explained.

“My understanding is there will be no experimental laws within the Premiership in the new season. It won’t continue.

“I am happy with that.

“The aim was to create a faster game which would produce more entertaining rugby.

“What I found from a personal experience was it produced a proliferation of kicking for touch and driving from the lineout.

“There did appear to be a lot of tries scored, but a lot of them came from that area.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

“I am not averse to a catch and drive, but it did become a predominant aspect of the game and that’s not what had been envisaged.”

One man to flourish amid the new system was Ebbw Vale flanker Ronny Kynes, who turned scoring from lineout drives into an art form, claiming a league record 19 tries as he helped the Steelmen win the Premiership title.

“Ebbw Vale adapted their game to suit the law trial and executed it very well,” said Reardon.

“Congratulations to them for that.”

One other element to the law trial was that uncontested scrums had to feature eight players, even if teams didn’t have suitably trained front row players due to injuries or a sending off.