Super Rugby Pacific Added New Law Variation for the 2023 Season

 

Super Rugby Pacific will introduce many exciting new rules for the 2023 season.

Goal kicks, set pieces, and rucks will be timed, and the Third Match Official process will be simplified. "Faster and smoother" is the goal.

Referees will limit conversions; penalty kicks, scrums, lineouts, and rucks to 90, 60, 30, and 5 seconds, respectively.

If the field referee missed a serious, obvious foul, TMOs will stop the game.

Referees can ask the TMO to decide on a yellow card, although longer video reviews happen after the player leaves the field.

The TMO will then have eight minutes to choose between a 10-minute yellow card and a 20-minute red card. The player can be substituted after a 20-minute red card.

Referees can now give complete red cards for intentional foul play. If this happens, the player cannot play again or be replaced.

Tournament director Matt Barlow said all teams and World Rugby agreed on the changes to make the game safer and more entertaining.