Super League I - Rule Changes

Rule Changes

Four new rules were introduced for the inaugural Super League season:

• Scrums were now to be set 20 metres from the touch-line, with the aim of creating attacking opportunities.
• At the restart after a try has been scored and the conversion attempt has been taken, the side that scored will now kick off to the other team. This change aimed to make contests more even by almost guaranteeing possession for the side that had conceded points. Greg McCallum, the director of referees' coaching, also noted that this convention was "in line with most other sports" and "that is significant when we come to promoting the game in America and Asia".

In an attempt to "clean up" the ruck:

• At the play-the-ball, the side not in possession was barred from striking for the ball.
• Also at the play-the-ball, the tackled player was stopped from being able to tap the ball forwards to himself - even in the absence of markers.