Super Rugby Aotearoa has introduced two new law changes, including a captain’s call and a goal line release, for the 2021 season starting in just over two weeks.
The changes come after the introduction of a golden point and new card laws in 2020.
The new tricks will be introduced as early as this weekend when Super Rugby sides bring Aotearoa to the field for their first preseason games.
The most interesting legal introduction, the captain’s call, will give each captain one chance to ask the referee for a TMO check for a break against an attempt, or a review of a false play.
The captains will have 10 seconds to make the decision after a try and the TMO will be able to go back to the final stop in play, no matter how many steps have been played. While reporting for deceptive play after any cessation of play.
If the skipper’s referral is correct they will keep their captain’s call, but if the referee’s original decision upholds, or if the TMO pictures are not ‘clear and obvious’, the skipper will lose their referral.
After the 75-minute mark, the transmission can be used more widely – as long as the captain keeps the same reference – to check any referee’s decision, regardless of whether an attempt has been made.
NZR National Referee Manager Bryce Lawrence said the captain’s call would launch another round of scrutiny of fraudulent play and reduce any errors from confirming the outcome of the game at the last minute.
“We think the skipper’s reference is inconclusive,” Lawrence said. “No one wants a game to be decided on a wrong call, especially in the last minutes, and especially in a competition that was as strong and close as Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020.
“When a game goes down the wire and is hung on a referee’s decision, everyone wants to make sure we get a good result.
“Rugby is a fast-paced and, at times, complex game, so another set of eyes is always a good thing. We’ve seen this kind of concept thrive in other sports and we want to see how he fares when he’s played in rugby. “
The second law change, the new goal line release law, is similar to that introduced by Super Rugby AU in 2020. The variable will see a goal line come in when an attacking player who carrying the ball into -cool or hitting the ball in the in-field area. A goal line also occurs when an attack kick – as well as a penalty or a goal attempt – is set by the defense team in their goal.
NZR High Performance CEO Mike Anthony said the new law changes have been introduced to make the game more attractive.
“We are always looking at how we can make the game faster and fairer for players, and a better view for fans and we hope that the goal and transfer line will be improved. captain in part to achieve these goals in 2021. “