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New law changes confirmed for another season of Super Rugby AU

9th February, 2021
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9th February, 2021
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Rugby Australia has kept most of last year’s Super Rugby AU law changes for the 2021 edition, as well as adding a further two variations.

The regulations regarding kick-offs from rugby sevens have been adopted, meaning any infringement from the restart will result in a free-kick being awarded, and that the kicking team has a 30-second limit to take the kick.

And while up to ten minutes of extra time will once again be used to find a winner if teams are level after 80 minutes, a golden-try system will be used rather than last year’s golden point. The side which scores the first five-pointer of the additional period will win the match.

Teams can still opt to kick for goal either from penalties or via a drop-goal attempt, but the game will continue in the event of a successful kick until a try is scored or the ten minutes elapse.

The kick-off changes have been made to speed up the game and reduce the number of scrums, while the alterations to extra time have been introduced to encourage attacking play and avoid a repeat of a clash between the Rebels and Reds which saw both sides play out a dour, conservative final ten minutes of their drawn match in Round 2 last year.

The introduction of goal-line drop-outs, replacements for sent-off players, and 50-22 and 22-50 kicks are all rule changes from 2020 which have been retained.

In addition, referees have been directed to police the breakdown more stringently in an attempt to speed up the play, particularly in regards to Law 15.17, which states: “When the ball has been clearly won by a team at the ruck, and is available to be played, the referee calls ‘use it’, after which the ball must be played away from the ruck within five seconds.”

“These variations have the capacity to enhance the capabilities of our players, and the general entertainment value in the game as well,” RA director of rugby Scott Johnson said.

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“There were some terrific, robust discussions that were had, and some great left-field ideas proposed, but we believe we have struck a great balance in preserving the integrity of the competition, developing our players for the Test arena later this year and enhancing the spectacle of the game.

“The variations were all unanimously agreed, and everyone also indicated a desire for referees to ‘speed up the game’ with a general reduction in scrum resets, and a greater onus on the attacking team to use the ball from a ruck when available.”

Super Rugby AU 2021 law changes

  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.
  2. When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending teamPlay restarts with a goal-line drop-out.
  3. A red-carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes, unless the team has already used all their substitutions.
  4. A kick taken from within the defending team’s 50-metre area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 22m having first bounced in the field of play results in a lineout throw to the kicking team.
  5. A kick taken from within the defending team’s 22-metre area that travels into touch within the opposition’s 50-metre are having first bounced in the field of play results in a lineout throw to the kicking team.
  6. Kick-offs
    i. After a team has scored, their opponents restart play with a drop-kick on or behind the centre of the half-way line. The restart kick must be taken within 30 seconds from the time a conversion has been taken or declined, or from the time a penalty goal or dropped goal is kicked. Sanction: free-kick
    ii. When the ball is kicked, teammates of the kicker must be behind the ball. Sanction: free-kick
    iii. The ball must reach the ten-metre line. Sanction: free-kick
    iv. The ball must not go directly into touch. Sanction: free-kick
    v. If the ball is kicked into the opponents’ in-goal without touching any player and an opponent grounds the ball without delay or it goes into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line, the non-kicking team is awarded a free-kick
  7. Extra time: in the event of a drawn game, the teams will play out two five-minute periods of extra time to decide a winner.
    i. The team that kicked off at the start of the game will start the first period of extra time
    ii. The first try scored in any of the extra time periods wins the match for that team
    iii. No conversions of tries will be taken
    iv. The losing team receives a bonus point for being within seven points
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