Captain’s Challenge to be introduced in NZ as 2021 Super Rugby law variations rolled out

Super Rugby have announced some new law variations to be trialled in the coming 2021 season in Australia and New Zealand. The most eye-catching has to be the introduction of the Captain’s Challenge in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Some will see this as a worthy trial, others a deepening attempt to undermine the onfield referees. Time will well. There will be one challenge per side which can be used in three scenarios – anything in the last five minutes of a game; an infringement in the build-up to a try or; foul play. A successful appeal will see the challenge retained.

The process will be as follows:

• The nominated Captain will have 10 seconds to make their referral after a try has been awarded.
• The TMO will be able to go back to the last stoppage in play, regardless of how many phases have been played.
• Foul play referrals can be made after any stoppage in play if the captain believes foul play has been missed by the match officials.
• Captain’s must reference ‘specific’ incidents or infringements.
• Footage must be ‘clear and obvious’ for a referral to be upheld.
• The scrum and lineout are not included in the referral process.

If the referring captain is correct, they will retain their referral, but if the referee’s original decision stands, or the TMO footage is not ‘clear and obvious’, the captain loses their referral.

The captain’s referral will be applied more broadly from the 75-minute mark in any match at which point the captain, provided they have not already lost their referral, can use it to check any referee’s decision, regardless of whether a try has been scored.

Elsewhere there are other variations to be used.

Australia

• Kick-off and restart variations seen in Rugby Sevens – a free kick will be awarded following any infringement off the kick-off and restart. This includes an enforced 30 second time limit for restarts to happen following a conversion, penalty or drop goal as well as restarts that are kicked out on the full or if teammates of the kicker are not behind the ball. The team that was set to receive the ball will get a free kick on halfway.
• Golden Point law variation for draw will now by Golden Try, not golden point.

New Zealand

• Introduction of a goal-line drop-out for balls enforced in goal. 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. When a kick enters the in-goal area and is forced by the defending team play also restarts with a goal-line drop-out.
• Extra time for a draw, 10-minute e/w period will be played with the first points scored ensuring the win.
• Captain’s Referral in rugby. Each team will get one referral which can be activated in one of three scenarios: any decision in the last five minutes of the game, an infringement in the build-up to a try or foul play.

New Zealand National Referee’s Manager Bryce Lawrence said the captain’s referral would bring players into the on-field decision making process, make the game safer by adding another level of scrutiny to foul play, and mitigate the risk of matches being decided in the final stages by an incorrect referee’s call. “We think the captain’s referral is a no-brainer. Nobody wants to see a match decided on a wrong call, particularly in the final minutes, and especially in a competition as fiercely and closely contested as Super Rugby Aotearoa was in 2020.

“When a match goes down the wire and hangs on a referee’s decision, everyone wants to make sure we get a positive outcome. We’ve seen this sort of concept succeed in other sports and we want to see how it goes when applied to rugby.”

This is one that will no doubt see much discussion. Do feel free to let us know your thoughts here, or if you’re a referee/match official, come and join our Facebook referee group