The journey into the unknown

The turbulent start to the new season is a situation made for Spock and Captain Kirk: "It's rugby, Jim, but not as we know it." There has been a definite star trek during the summer as player movement has been in the direction of what they had thought would be financial security.

For this week at least there will be a Courage League programme for the First Division; the Second Division clubs begin their campaign next week although today they will be engaged in cross- border skirmishes in the secondary Anglo-Welsh club competition. The Welsh Rugby Union have tried to play down the importance of the competition, but English Second Division Rugby (EFDR) are hoping to get a sponsor for the event.

Apart from the influx of talented individuals from Rugby League in a couple of weeks, there will be other noticeable changes, not least in north and west London where Saracens and Wasps respectively have moved to football stadia. Saracens entertain Leicester at Enfield Town FC, where they will remain until work is completed on a proposed new ground on land adjacent to the football club's ground. Wasps fans will have to wait a week longer before they can settle down in the all-seater stadium of Loftus Road. This week the English All Blacks travel to Sale.

At Harlequins - who wish to be known as NEC Harlequins in deference to their sponsors - it will no longer be possible to identify a player's position by the shirt number he sports. When Gary Connolly makes his debut at Cardiff he will pull on the No 37 jersey, his rugby league colleague Robbie Paul is squad No 35. Every player has been allocated a squad number which they will wear all season. Naturally Will Carling will wear No 13 all season, even when he plays at stand-off, as he is hoping to do; today, at home to Gloucester, the former England captain is at his regular position of centre and it is unlikely that the first- choice stand-off Paul Challinor will give up his berth without a fight. Not all change is necessarily progress, but most of it helps marketing - and broadcasting.

To date any rockets in the game have been of the missile variety, aimed at different factions as the administrative infighting continues, but this afternoon fans can expect to see rockets of a different nature; while the rugby league incomers are not due for a couple more weeks, the addition of a couple of sprinters to the club ranks - Jason John at Moseley and Derek Redmond at Coventry - will also add to the impression of speed. And, of course, there is the sub 10.5sec 100-metre runner Paul Sampson who has also joined Wasps.

In any case, a faster game has been promised by everyone following changes to the laws which should allow more time for the playmakers at half-back to set their threequarters moving. The line-out, one of the most difficult areas for a referee to control satisfactorily has also had a change or two made, most notably the one where a player may now use either hand to tap the ball back, provided both arms are above his head; previously they could only use the inside arm to play the ball.

Of course as professionals there is going to be a great weight of expectation on the players. Fans - and the clubs financial backers - will want their money's worth (however that can be quantified). Entertainment has to be at the forefront of any side's strategy. There will be little tolerance for stodgy 10-man rugby. The days of the hoof it and hope brigade are numbered. So a more expansive game, the sort the England coach, Jack Rowell, and his squad aspire to, can be expected, and probably demanded.

Foreign imports will help on the entertainment front. Apart from the aforementioned speedsters, there is also the presence of high calibre players such as Michael Lynagh, the former Australian stand-off, and retired - but far from retiring on the pitch - France centre Philippe Sella, both at Saracens. Then there is Laurent Benezech and Laurent Cabannes to beef up Harlequins pack. Alex King, the prodigiously talented Bristol University stand-off will appear in Wasps colours this season.

Most interest is going to surround the performances of the rugby league stars. Work permits allowing, Va'iga Tuigamala (Wasps), Connolly and Paul (Harlequins), Henry Paul and Jason Robinson (Bath), Martin Offiah (Bedford), Frano Botica (Orrell).

And it will be fascinating to see how the have-nots cope. Clubs without a sound financial footing by now are already on the edge of the herd and are expected to go to the wall perhaps before the season is out. Much of their destiny is out of their hands; but with the ball in them they can still contribute something to their fate. Money may change the individuals in the game; it will be interesting to see if it changes the game itself.

Main rule changes in pursuit of the running game

Scrum: All eight players to remain bound until ball leaves scrummage; thus giving half-backs more time and room to get their threequarters moving; scrum-half who is not putting ball not allowed to move more than 1.0-1.5 metres from base of scrum, even if opposite number moves wide for back- row move.

Tackle: Tackler must move away from tackled man and ball immediately he is able to do so. Players who infringe on the ground on three occasions may be cautioned or sent off: but if shown red card sending- off will be considered punishment enough, no ban will follow.

Line-out: Jumpers can be supported from hips once ball is thrown; provided both arms are above head the jumper can tap ball back with either hand.

Drop-out: Kicks by attackers which go over the dead-ball line will result in the other side being awarded either a drop-out or a scrum from the place the ball was kicked.

Claiming a mark: Players who catch the ball in their own 22 may now claim a mark while they are still airborne. A mark may not be made directly from a kick-off.

Deliberate knock-on: Will result in a penalty (changed from free-kick).

Penalty kicks: An opponent running five metres with the ball no longer puts members of the penalised team onside. They must continue retreating to the 10- metre line.

Dummy passes: Scrum-half dummy is now illegal at ruck and maul, as it is at scrum. Penalty for it is a free-kick.

Offside at scrum, ruck and maul: Penalty now taken on offside line.

Rucking: Players should attempt to step over those already on the ground.