NZRL Rule Changes 2012
Following a period of consultation with the NZRL Football
Advisory Group, Zone General Managers and Referee Co-ordinators,
the following rule changes/adjustments to International grades (13
years and over) have been approved and are to be introduced across
NZRL competitions in 2012 and going forward until further
notice.
These changes have been made to encourage attacking play and to
align with competitions played in Australia and England.
40/20
kicks
CURRENT RULE: 40/20 kicks only
allowed in Premier and National Domestic competition matches where
there are three accredited and appointed Match Officials.
NEW RULE:
40/20 kicks are to be allowed in all matches that are played
under the NZRL International Rules and Laws (ie. teams aged 13
years and above).
If a ball is kicked by a player in general play from within
his/her own 40m area and finds touch in his/her opponent's 20m area
(other than on the full), the kicking side will have the loose head
and feed at the scrum.
NOTE: When adjudicating 40/20 kicks, only accredited and
official Touch Judges are the sole judge of fact on whether the
ball has crossed inside or outside the 20m line. In other cases
(eg. if club or non-official Touch Judges are used), the Referee
has the final decision on whether the ball has crossed inside or
outside the 20m line.
No zero tackle from general kicks in
play
CURRENT RULE: Some competitions
have been playing a rule whereby teams in possession receive a
"zero tackle" after any general kick in play from the opposing
team.
NEW RULE:
There is to be NO zero tackle from a general kick in play. From
now on - when teams receive a kick in general play from the
opposition team, the tackle count will start at "one".
However, the zero tackle rule remains as per the existing NZRL
International Rules and Laws following infringements (eg. after a
knock on or forward pass)
Corner post
CURRENT RULE: If a ball-carrier
makes contact with the corner post, he/she is deemed to be out of
play (touch-in-goal).
NEW RULE:
If a ball-carrier makes contact with the corner post, he/she
will NOT be deemed to be out of play, unless any part of his/her
body has made contact with either the touch-line or touch-in-goal
line, or the ground beyond the touch-line or touch-in-goal
line.
If the ball is not in possession of a player and it makes
contact with the corner post (eg. from a kick or loose ball etc),
the ball will be deemed to be touch-in-goal as per existing law and
play will restart according to which team infringes.
All other rules relating to the corner post and restarts of play
remain unchanged.
The following rules will be edited in the next version of the
NZRL rule book.
Please contact Marc Harris (NZRL Referees Manager) on (09) 571
3855 or at marc@nzrl.co.nz
should you wish to discuss further.