Rule Changes - 2014 NRL Season

[TRF_melon]

In order to prevent negative play, provide greater safety to players and to offer a more thrilling conclusion to matches, the NRL has amended rules for the 2014 Season. These rules apply to the Premiership, State of Origin, City-Country and U20's; and include -

NRL.com
Zero tackle from 20m restart
The first tackle after a 20m optional kick will be called a zero tackle. The rule change provides an extra tackle to discourage tactical kicks and negative play when the ball is kicked dead to slow down the game and deny wingers and fullbacks the chance to return kicks.

40/20 restarts
The team that performs a 40/20 kick will restart play with a tap kick 20m in from the touch at the point it crossed the line instead of at a scrum.

Restarts from kicks out on full
A handover will be awarded when the ball is kicked out on the full on any tackle.

Stop the clock
During the last five minutes of a match, the clock will stop following a conversion or penalty kick at goal until play restarts at halfway. The interpretation change will add excitement during close matches, provide consistency across matches and reduce potential time-wasting.

Quick taps
A quick penalty restart will be permitted on any infringement except 10m penalties, where the referee issues a caution or within 10m of the opposition goal line. The interpretation change encourages more continuous play.

Captain communication
Captains will only be able to speak to referees during a stoppage in play (tries, injury break or when referee is issuing a caution). Penalties and scrums are not considered stoppages of play. Captains will be given an opportunity to speak to the referees as players leave the field for half-time.

Goal-kicking time limit
The referee will call time-off at approximately 1min 20sec following the scoring of a try. Fines will still apply to clubs when a player takes longer than 1min 40sec to take a conversion.

Cannonball tackles
When a player is being held in an upright position by two defenders, any additional tackler must make initial contact to the player in possession above the knee. In addition, referees will be instructed to call held earlier on upright tackles to deter unnecessary third-man tackles.

Crusher tackles
The Match Review Committee will be directed to charge crusher tackles at the higher end of the scale to provide a greater deterrent.


What does everyone think?

I very much support trying to remove the time wasting aspect of the game and also like the idea of abolishing the scrum in some cases. In saying that though, as pointless as the scrum is, it sometimes allows the backs more room to run and brings about more opportunities for interesting set plays.

The cannon ball tackle rule is terrific too.

 

[UilamOsa]

In order to prevent negative play, provide greater safety to players and to offer a more thrilling conclusion to matches, the NRL has amended rules for the 2014 Season. These rules apply to the Premiership, State of Origin, City-Country and U20's; and include
-
Stop the clock
During the last five minutes of a match, the clock will stop following a conversion or penalty kick at goal until play restarts at halfway. The interpretation change will add excitement during close matches, provide consistency across matches and reduce potential time-wasting.

Captain communication
Captains will only be able to speak to referees during a stoppage in play (tries, injury break or when referee is issuing a caution). Penalties and scrums are not considered stoppages of play. Captains will be given an opportunity to speak to the referees as players leave the field for half-time.


Cannonball tackles
When a player is being held in an upright position by two defenders, any additional tackler must make initial contact to the player in possession above the knee. In addition, referees will be instructed to call held earlier on upright tackles to deter unnecessary third-man tackles.

What does everyone think?

I very much support trying to remove the time wasting aspect of the game and also like the idea of abolishing the scrum in some cases. In saying that though, as pointless as the scrum is, it sometimes allows the backs more room to run and brings about more opportunities for interesting set plays.

The cannon ball tackle rule is terrific too.

On the whole, very positive changes but too early to tell.

Stop the Clock is silly in a sense. Because, it in of itself, just lacks consistency - time wasting should stamped out from the 1st to the last minute of the game - to suddenly decide that the previous 75 minutes had no previous time wasting and it's more important at this end of the game, to me, seems wrong.

If a penalty is questionable, then why can't the question be asked? Does that mean, the Referees will then no longer talk to the players until a stoppage? How will they that police that? Penalising a team asking a question about a penalty?

The Cannonball is a recent thing, brought on by the wrestling tactics brought into the game - It was never great - but those made with malicious intent were minimal. I think it's an overreaction. IF you have a prop rampaging through and a hooker has only managed to grab one arm and the half back is grabbing the other and he's dragging them, it's only natural for another player to take his ankles - they're aren't all of a sudden going to contemplate where exactly they need to make the tackle. Don't get me wrong, they were dangerous and a definite threat to players - but so is tackling in general.

This whole thing will be a washup, if it isn't applied at SOO level. TBC.

 

[JanicePKeys]

very helpful information

 

[Jaguares]

What does mean "the biff" in Rugby League? I read many messages about: "Bring back the biff" and I don't understand

 

[TRF_melon]

It's a reference to fighting. According to some, there's not enough claret shed these days.