RFL to trial three new rules in reserve grade

The RFL has revealed three experimental rules which will be trialled in reserve grade games in the UK in 2016.

The new rules are as follows:

1.    Time off at scrums

If a team is properly formed and ready to contest a scrum the referee will call time off. Players forming the scrum must remain in the positions they were when the clock is stopped and shall remain in position and when the other team form their scrum time will be called back on.

2.    40/20 tap restarts

When a kick in general play and from inside a team’s 40 metre zone, finds touch        (other than on the full) in the opposition’s 20 metre zone, the attacking (kicking) team shall restart play with a tap kick as opposed to a scrum 20 metres in from touch opposite where the ball crossed the touch line, but no closer than 10 metres from the goal line.

The referee shall ensure a controlled restart of play.

3.    Attacking team adding a player to the back line at a scrum

Prior to a scrum being formed the attacking team shall have the option to have an additional player outside of the scrum provided that there shall be a maximum of eight players outside the scrum in the attacking line.