The IRB is to use the upcoming Pacific Rugby Cup to trial a revised scrum engagement.
The annual tournament, features A sides from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Japan as well as development sides from the Australian and New Zealand Super Rugby franchises and national academy sides.
The "crouch", "touch", "set" engagement calls currently being trialled globally are maintained within the PRC trial but in a revision to the technique of engagement, props will be expected to bind using their outside arm after the referee has called "touch" in the sequence.
It is hoped the change will reduce the impact of the 'hit' while increasing overall scrum stability.
