NRL 2024 Rule Amendment - Contested Restarts
17th January 2024
The NRL has confirmed a change to Law and Interpretations ahead of the 2024 NRL Pre-Season and Premiership. The change is designed to incentivise more contests for the ball from set restarts.
Contested Restarts
If a team kicks the ball out on the full over the touch line, or the ball fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in an attempt to contest a restart from the goal-line, 20m line, or half-way line, play will now restart with a play-the-ball 10 metres out from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than with a penalty kick. The change will give more incentive for teams to attempt short kick-offs or drop-outs.
"While relatively minor, this change will add to the unpredictability of the game," NRL Executive General Manager – Elite Football Graham Annesley said. "Teams will no longer risk conceding significant territory as well as a penalty for attempting to regain possession from restarts of play. We undertook a thorough review of the 2023 season, including consultation with the NRL Clubs, the RLPA and other stakeholders, and while there was a strong desire to keep changes to a minimum, this minor change will incentivise short kick-offs and drop-outs. This will strongly accompany the Commission’s direction to enhance the existing rules, leading to a faster, more free-flowing and unpredictable game."
The change has been approved by the Commission and was communicated today to the NRL Clubs and Coaches.
Ref - NRL [Viewed 28 Jan 2024] / FN-2
IRL 2025 International Rule Amendment - Contested Restarts
8th February 2025
Almost a year after the rule was introduced into the NRL, the International Rugby League has announced amendments to the international laws of the game designed to encourage more contests for the ball from set re-starts. The changes follow a recommendation from the IRL Laws Advisory Group, comprising of Graham Annesley (Chair, ARLC), Michael Maguire (APRL), Ruan Sims (ARLC), Laurent Frayssinous (ERL), Lyndsey Anfield, Phil Bentham (RFL) and Danny Kazandjian (IRL).
If a team kicks the ball out on the full over the touch line, or the ball fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in an attempt to contest a restart from the goal-line, 20m line, or half-way line, play will now restart with a play-the-ball 10 metres out from the line of the kick and 10 metres in from touch, rather than with a penalty kick. The change will give more incentive for teams to attempt short kick-offs or drop-outs.
The IRL Board has approved amendments to Section 8, Law 6 of the international Laws for immediate implementation.
Contested goal line drop-outs
If a team kicks a drop out on the full over the touchline or kicks a drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball 10 metres out from the goal line and 10m in from touch, rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 10-metre line.
Contested 20m drop-outs
If a team kicks a drop out on the full over the touchline or kicks a drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball 10 metres out from the 20-metre line and 10m in from touch, rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 20-metre line.
Contested 20m optional kick
If a team takes a 20-metre optional kick and it travels on the full over the touch line, play will restart with a play the ball 1O metres out from the 20 metre line and 1O metres in from touch, rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 20 metre line.
For the avoidance of doubt, contested restart kicks described above (goal line and 20-metre drop outs) must be capable of being contested in the opinion of the referee. That is, a kick where there is a reasonable opportunity for a member(s) of the kicking team and receiving team to play at the ball to gain possession. Typically, these are either high cross-field kicks or bouncing cross-field kicks towards chasers from the kicking team with the clear intent to contest the ball. The contested restarts described above apply only to breaches by the kicking team where the kick either does not travel 10 metres forward or goes into touch on the full. If players from either team make contact with the ball before it has the opportunity to travel 10 metres a full penalty will still apply. If the contested restart as described above does not travel 10 metres forward or is kicked into touch on the full, and the half time/ full time hooter sounds prior to the play the ball taking place, time will be extended until the next tackle/stoppage after the ball has been played.
Ref - IRL [Viewed 9 Feb 2025] / FN-30