Red-card replacements, greater incentives for attacking kicks and extra-time after drawn matches are some of the rule changes which will be used in this year’s Super Rugby AU competition.
Having flagged the introduction of a number of law amendments for the Australian-only competition earlier this week, Rugby AU today confirmed the new measures after consultation with a number of players, coaches, referee coaches and administrators.
As in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa, red-carded players will be allowed to be replaced with a substitute after 20 minutes in an attempt to lessen the impact of send-offs early in matches.
50/22 and 22/50 kicks will result in the kicking team retaining possession with a lineout – a change already trialled in the NRC – and drawn matches will have two five-minute periods of extra-time to produce a result, with the first team to score winning the game.
“We assembled some of the best minds in the game from a range of different roles to look at adding some new attacking dimensions to the game while at the same time sticking to some key principles to preserve the fabric of the sport,” Rugby AU director of rugby Scott Johnson said.
“The level of engagement was outstanding from the players and coaches involved in the process and we ended up with a set of law variations that were unanimously agreed upon by all 24 people involved.
Johnson also said referees will be told to keep a closer eye on the breakdown and limit scrum resets in order to speed up the game.
“We will also zero in on the application of law around the breakdown and scrums, trying to limit some of the downtime and improve the flow of the game.
“Throughout the process, we stuck to the principle that whatever we changed, the game still had to be rugby, and nothing could compromise the Wallabies’ preparation for Test rugby. In fact, I believe the changes we have implemented will broaden and enhance the capabilities of our players.”
A run-down of all the rule changes from Rugby AU is as follows:
| Law variation | Law reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. When an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal or knocks the ball on play restarts with a goal-line drop-out | 21 (17); 12 (13) |
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| 2. When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending team play restarts with a goal-line drop-out | 12 (11) | As above |
| 3. A kick originating in the attacking 22m area cannot be marked by the defending team within their own 22m area. The kick can however be marked within the defending team’s in-goal area and play restarts with a 22m line drop- out | 17 | To claim a mark, a player must:
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| 4. A red-carded player can be replaced after 20min |
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| 5. A kick taken from within the defending team’s 50m area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 22m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a lineout throw to the kicking team | 18 | Criteria:
Clarifications:
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| 6. A kick taken from within the defending team’s 22m area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 50m area having first bounced in the field of play results in a lineout throw to the kicking team | 18 | Criteria:
Clarifications:
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| 7. Super Time (2 x 5min periods of extra time) in the event of a drawn game after regulation time where the first points scored wins the match for the scoring team | N/A |
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jeznez
Roar Guru
Yeah, I can’t play touch either. :crying:
MitchO
Guest
Yoga is more pleasant than touch rugby and there's still lots of fit people in spandex. Plus me looking like a beer drinker.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I tried yoga, found it too hard! :laughing:
MitchO
Guest
Thanks Jez. If safety was genuinely improved then that's good. All those tons of pressure my spine has soaked up over years are probably dangerous enough. In many respects whether its rugby, soccer, hockey or whatever - exercise is bad for your health. I highly recommend yoga and tai chi which I found late(r) in life and unfortunately post rugby "career".
jeznez
Roar Guru
Mitcho, I'm having trouble tracking down hard numbers but I believe there has been a drop in spinal injuries at scrum time as the referees have taken over and even more with the pre-bind before the set. Have definitely seen something saying that rucks and tackles now are the major source when previously it was scrums. I was one that thought the removal of the "hit" was unnecessary and wouldn't achieve the goal of less catastrophic injuries - it really does seem I was wrong on both counts. My issues are with constant re-sets and the amount of time wasted before they even start setting up for the scrum - usually due to a back that has seen the need to receive injury treatment right by the mark. I think we can reduce re-sets with by trying to always use the ball if it's available. We should be able to reduce penalties by only penalising clear infringements. If the ball is unplayable and it isn't clear one team acted illegally, then give a free-kick (that doesn't allow a re-set) to the team in possession at the point of collapse and play on. I'm certain that we can speed things up without reverting to the old wild days that were a lot of fun but sadly had too many tragic outcomes. The one I don't know how to solve for is the fake injury near the mark, the one that allows all the trainers to run out, everyone to have a chin wag, the forwards to clear any mud out of their boots, the player to jog back to their position in the line and then we set up. Maybe we need the football rule whereby you have to leave the pitch to receive injury treatment and you play a man down or permanently replace. The major concern is what does that do to players willingness to put their hand up for a HIA? Am sure they'll play through injuries that should be getting treatment.
MitchO
Guest
With the slow set it often meant that one prop had to stick his neck exactly where he didn't want to put it. Particularly if the other guy was short or just enormous. I found it safer and easier to hunch your shoulders and dive in from distance. Some skilful props are nuts but most of the good ones will let you live so long as you mind your manners. Even the South Africans. Perhaps not the French(?)
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah you're probably right MitchO, there would just be an adjustment phase I guess. I never actually played front row under the 'ye olde' way, having not grown into my genes until my 20s It all seemed such a long way away from fullback
MitchO
Guest
Piru just because a modern prop has abs and spends time running fast and passing the ball doesn't mean that all hope is lost. The Ref needs to be in charge but tell the front the rows to sort it out or he/she will. It was awful and mostly dangerous when refs started setting the scrums. Either both front rows are good and know what they are doing or one is clearly dominant and the Ref just tells them not to screw around. After that ref driven scrum setting came in we had a glorious scrumming game against Neddies 3rd grade. We both had good scrums although ours was better than Neddies. At the first scrum one of the old Neddies props told the ref that we'll sort it out and the ref was good enough to let us do it. But in proper front rowing fashion I am certain that if our scrum was rubbish the Neddies guys would have ensured safety.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't think that skill exists anymore unfortunately. We've trained props for 30 odd years now to scrum to the instructions of the ref, I don't know if they could go back to setting properly (and safely) by themselves. Maybe I'm just underestimating modern props though
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I think that’s pretty reasonable in most cases. The one that irks me is the length that scrums take. I don’t know if that can be changed through interpretations or whether it requires rule changes. Some people on here suggested letting the players set the scrums again rather than the referee.
piru
Roar Rookie
I think they'd be better off addressing interpretations and the way situations are reffed than changing the laws themselves.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
*shrugs* I think a lot of the reason people want changes at the moment is because the laws are often being refereed in a way that limits competition for the ball or leads to things taking a bit long.
piru
Roar Rookie
The usual reason for law changes, whinging fans who'd rather blame a ref, laws, the weather, whatever, than their own players and coaches for a loss. oops did I say that out loud
Guess
Guest
Why is there a need for not so red card? Reds are rare and they do change balance but sometimes for better. Even if it's somewhat unfair nobody forces the teams to make rc worthy offences
Olly
Roar Rookie
Agree, spread the ball to the winger who kicks through into touch.....all game long. No chance of seeing a rolling maul again with a easy line drop out risk.
Olly
Roar Rookie
We will never see a winger get tackled in their own half again.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Teams will attack the wing and then put a long range kick alone the ground into touch. This is the obvious play everyone is going to do from the kickoff.
Olly
Roar Rookie
The kicking rules bother me. 50:22 will just make it to easy for teams to release pressure. I also want to keep the 5m scrum. Attacking scrums are at there best 5m out and the dropout kick is to easy an out that I think will lead to more penalty goals taken over driving mauls from lineout resulting in less attacking the goal line. I would just kick my way down, then play for a penalty then repeat from the kick off.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Not a fan of a blanket replacement for red cards after 20 minutes. For non foul play infringement like repeated rule infractions, getting two yellows getting a red, then fine but a player coming with his boots, a pile driver type tackle, stiffy, gouging then they should be off with no replacement
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Except for the broadcasters