The Rugby Football League has confirmed Super League will restart without scrums when the competition resumes on August 2.
The RFL board has ratified a host of rule changes to combat the coronavirus impact and will also adopt the “six again” rule also ushered in by the NRL, where the bulk of ruck infringements are penalised by restarting the tackle count and not a penalty.
The RFL board has also delayed a decision on whether to restart the Championship and League One campaigns.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has presented all sports with immense challenges,” said RFL chair Simon Johnson.
“We continue to work through these challenges in Rugby League, and our approach throughout has been to consider the interests of all our member clubs, and of the game as a whole.
“That is why we have been keen to communicate and consult as often as possible – and that consultation has revealed a wide range of opinions.
“After our meeting today, we are confirming some significant changes to the way the game will be played on the field when Rugby League resumes next month – which we believe are important and necessary to prioritise the welfare of players, and the success of the season when it resumes.”
RFL chiefs have now set a deadline of July 23 on whether to restart the lower two divisions.
“Following a survey of the 25 Betfred Championship and League 1 clubs that was conducted after their meeting last month to assess their current views, the board observed that for a majority of clubs in each competition, playing matches behind closed doors is impractical, given the costs and other logistical issues,” read an RFL statement.
“However, the board also noted that a small majority of clubs at both Championship and League 1 level preferred to hold open the possibility of resuming the season given the changing situation regarding the cost of testing and the possibility of playing in front of crowds.
“While a majority also expressed support for the possibility of a meaningful competition later in the autumn and winter if that was the best available option.
“The board also have sympathy for the issues at Super League level, in terms of the integrity of their competition, and the need for clarity well ahead of the resumption of their 2020 season.
“Therefore the situation will be reviewed at the Board updates on the next two Mondays, July 13 and 20, with a decision to be made at the latest by July 23 – both on the resumption of the Championship and League 1 season, and on promotion and relegation between the competitions.
“That timeline also fits with a deadline for the five Championship and League 1 clubs who have qualified for the Sixth Round of the Coral Challenge Cup, to decide whether they feel it is feasible to continue in the competition.”
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
I’m with you on that EWW. Change the rule to “loss of ball control” and go from there, same thing for knock-ons…it becomes loss of ball control and then one of the major bones of contention is removed immediately “He knocked the ball forward” – “No he didn’t ” – The ruling is he lost control of the ball…..simples
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Some bad news for both of us I'm afraid. Although I proposed the six again rule on the Roar last year and thought it was something new , it was trialed in 2012 apparently.
Muzz
Guest
Terrible rule change. Call the Hookers Union.
Nick
Roar Guru
You actually think the rugby league scrum is a positive spectacle? 12 men just grabbing a bit of shirt for 3 seconds is worthwhile?
Walter Black
Guest
Think this one is more the Poms pandering to Health Officials, at least I hope so.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Let the super league experiment, it will be a dismal spectacle. Seriously, whats next, a spherical ball to make the game faster, forward passes to make the game faster, 10 players to make the game faster, no-one over 23 to make the game faster, halve the playing field and have two games on at once to make the game faster.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well my ideas also called for getting rid of scrums altogether, 6 again to be called for offside and for the there to be only 4 replacements and to limit video refs to just 2 per team on try scoring opportunities to try and add in a lot more fatigue. But just with the 6 again for ruck infringements we have seen a big difference so keeping scrums when you find touch would be a good way to keep the scrums in my mind.
Nick
Roar Guru
The differential in the Manly game? Please. The ref was hounded for that - rightly so. Pedantry of the highest order. Wasn't that the first differential in 5 years? And come on...when was the last time the defence won a scrum against the feed? Tell me.
Nick
Roar Guru
Right now scrums are only useful to have a rest if you are under the pump, so make that the focus, if you are good enough to find touch then you can have a rest. Makes it tactical. Yeah. I prefer the players to get run to exhaustion, but I could settle for that. My other idea is the scrum stays locked until the first tackle has been made. Give us a little 7 on 7. Disagree. Two issues there. 1. The visual is horrific. You have a play taking place and 12 men are basically having a weird statue hug fest on the other side of the park. 2. If the tackle takes place near the advantage line, then all of a sudden 6 people are offside and unlikely to get back the 10 before the play the ball or even get remotely close to getting into a set defensive line. It would lead to scrums almost certainly leading to tries by tackle 2. It would encourage open season on kicking for touch.
Paul
Roar Guru
I saw a scrum penalty last weekend SM. I've also seen more than a few tries scored from set pieces generated as a result of scrums being set.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If I was a coach I would be instructed my team to push on scrums when we have the feed. Force their forwards/whoever to lock in for a little longer. If we do have scrums I want to only have scrums for touch finders, not knock ons. Knock ons should be a change over. Right now scrums are only useful to have a rest if you are under the pump, so make that the focus, if you are good enough to find touch then you can have a rest. Makes it tactical. My other idea is the scrum stays locked until the first tackle has been made. Give us a little 7 on 7.
Nick
Roar Guru
Try explaining the point of the scrum to someone new to the game and you'll quickly realise how pointless it actually is. The continued existence of them is indefensible. It's already viewed as a joke by the players. If Covid was justification to get rid of them, then so be it.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
The obsession with 'speeding the game up' continues.
Walter Black
Guest
Sad to see the dumping of scrums and see little gain if this is simply a health precaution. If players are properly isolated/tested there should be no need. Big thumbs up for 6 again though. I reckon V'landys has won this argument when it comes up for review.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Ummm, this seems a little strange to the point of patronising to the health authorities. These 34 blokes are going to collide, exchange sweat and other bodily fluids for 80minutes. How does elimating the scrum offer any more protection from that. It's a contact sport, 'best practice' should be applied off the field so the game can stay the way it is.
Nick
Roar Guru
"No contests for the ball" We see maybe one scrum a year where a scrum has been won against the feed. In fact, I couldn't remember one at all in 2019 or 2018. Happy for someone to prove me wrong. Let's be realistic DP.
Nick
Roar Guru
"Big units"
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
ANd with the loss of the scrum we see an increase of ball snatching because there are no contests for the ball. If we are going to revamp that much of the game lets drop 2 players - the non-existent 2nd row - and play 11 and have 6 interchange coz the middles will be stuffed.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The game hasn't has second rowers or front rowers for a long time now. The are middle forwards and edge forwards. Hopefully these rule changes will see a return to ball playing forwards.
Paul
Roar Guru
So rather than a scrum, the side who would normally have the feed will now play the ball. I guess the game wants to become more like touch footy. I'm also keen to see how this plays out in terms of injuries based on fatigue