Rugby Australia to trial law changes in Super Rugby AU

Rugby Australia have unveiled which new law trials they introduce when the Super Rugby AU competition returns on 3rd July.

They’ll be making seven changes, including the ones being used in Super Rugby Aotearoa such as the ability to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes, and “Super Time” for matches that are drawn at 80 minutes.

Referees will also be asked to crack down on policing the breakdown, limiting the number of scrum resets and being on the lookout for cynical plays. New for Australian Super Rugby will be the roll out of the 50/22 and the 22/50 lineout options (explained below) and the goal line dropout law for when the ball’s held up in goal or has been touched down in goal by a defender. They will also eliminate the mark option from a ball kicked from the 22m area.

Rugby Australia Director of Rugby, Scott Johnson said the rules were agreed upon unanimously, “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.

“A couple of the variations including the 50/22 and 22/50s have been trialled previously in our NRC [National Rugby Championship] and we have added some principles around line drop-outs to encourage more short attacking kick options near the line.

“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.”

Comment: Again, this seems a sensible suite of law variations to test in this type of closed environment. From a refereeing perspective, the referees and ARs will really have to be on the mettle to keep tabs on who kicks the ball from where and whether they are entitled to then benefit from the new kick to touch options. Those decisions could have some big outcomes riding on them and this is a totally new concept for referees as well as players. Theyve got three weeks to figure it out!”

Keith Lewis, Editor, RugbyReferee.net

Super Rugby AU 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

• Drop-out is taken anywhere on or behind the defending team’s goal line. Sanction: 5m scrum in line with the place where the kick was taken
• Must be taken without delay. Sanction: Free-kick
• Must cross the goal line and travel 5m. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick being retaken or a 5m scrum in line with the place where the kick was taken
• The defence must be back 5m
• An opponent must not charge over the 5m line before the ball is kicked. Sanction: Free-kick
• If the ball crosses the 5m line but the bounces back play continues

2. When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending team play restarts with a goal line drop-out

• 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 be marked within the defending team’s in-goal area and play restarts with a 22m line drop- out
• To claim a mark, a player must:
• Have a least one foot on or behind their own goal line when catching the ball or when landing having caught it in the air; and catch a ball that has reached the plane of the goal line directly from an opponent’s kick before it touches the ground or another player; and simultaneously call “mark”

• A player may claim a mark even if the ball hits a goal post or crossbar before being caught 
• When a mark is called correctly, the referee immediately stops the game and awards a 22m restart to the team in possession
• Any player may take the 22m restart

4. Red Card 

• A red carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes
• If all substitutions have been used the Red Carded player cannot be replaced

5. 50/22 

• 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
• The defending team cannot take the ball into their own 50m area to gain this benefit
• Does not apply if a player kicks the ball from a free-kick awarded in the 50m area
• The 50m area includes the defending team’s in-goal area

6. 22/50

• 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 
• The defending team cannot take the ball into their own 22m area to benefit, or if there has been a tackle, ruck or maul takes places within the 22m area; or an opponent has touched the ball within the 22m area
• Does not apply if a player kicks the ball from a free-kick awarded in the 22m 
• The 22m area includes the defending team’s in-goal area

7. Super Time 

• In drawn matches, there will be 2 x 5min periods of extra time
• The first points scored wins the match for the scoring team
• From a points perspective there will be no conversion if a try is the first score in Super Time
• Losing team receives bonus point for being within 7 points
• Team that kicks off match kicks off first period of Super Time