The NRL has also received official confirmation from the RLIF in relation to two rule amendments for 2004. These rules will be consistent throughout the International Laws of the game.
Currently the team that wins the toss automatically receives the ball and has the choice of ends, the rule has been changed along the following lines:
1. Coin Toss (pre game & to commence extra time)
The team winning the toss now has the option of choosing which end of the field to defend, or alternatively may elect to kick-off to commence play. If the team winning the toss elects to kick-off, the choice of ends reverts to the team losing the toss.
Currently a team whose player is held up in goal while in possession before the fifth tackle will receive a scrum feed 10m from the goal line and an effective restarting of the tackle count. The rule will be altered along the following lines:
2. Held-up In-Goal
When an attacking player is held-up in his opponents in-goal area and is unable to ground the ball, play will be restarted by the player in possession playing the ball 10 metres out from the goal line directly opposite the point where he was held-up. The tackle count will then continue in the normal manner (ie. if a player is held-up on tackle 3, play will resume with a play-the-ball 10 metres from the goal line and the following tackle will be tackle 4). Please note that if a player in possession is held-up on the sixth tackle, there is no change to the existing rule (i.e. a 'hand-over' 10m out).
These rule changes will apply throughout the upcoming regional trials, however no breaches will be issued in relation to goal kicking until the commencement of the Telstra Premiership on Friday March 12.
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The kicking rule may have a huge effect on some teams. The kicking nazi will have to speed up his routine, or the drags will be forking out dosh every week.
As for the held-up rule, i think, will make for a quicker ball game, something RL has lacked for a while.
Currently the team that wins the toss automatically receives the ball and has the choice of ends, the rule has been changed along the following lines:
1. Coin Toss (pre game & to commence extra time)
The team winning the toss now has the option of choosing which end of the field to defend, or alternatively may elect to kick-off to commence play. If the team winning the toss elects to kick-off, the choice of ends reverts to the team losing the toss.
Currently a team whose player is held up in goal while in possession before the fifth tackle will receive a scrum feed 10m from the goal line and an effective restarting of the tackle count. The rule will be altered along the following lines:
2. Held-up In-Goal
When an attacking player is held-up in his opponents in-goal area and is unable to ground the ball, play will be restarted by the player in possession playing the ball 10 metres out from the goal line directly opposite the point where he was held-up. The tackle count will then continue in the normal manner (ie. if a player is held-up on tackle 3, play will resume with a play-the-ball 10 metres from the goal line and the following tackle will be tackle 4). Please note that if a player in possession is held-up on the sixth tackle, there is no change to the existing rule (i.e. a 'hand-over' 10m out).
These rule changes will apply throughout the upcoming regional trials, however no breaches will be issued in relation to goal kicking until the commencement of the Telstra Premiership on Friday March 12.
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The kicking rule may have a huge effect on some teams. The kicking nazi will have to speed up his routine, or the drags will be forking out dosh every week.
As for the held-up rule, i think, will make for a quicker ball game, something RL has lacked for a while.
