Super Rugby Pacific: Tournament organisers unveil law innovations for 2023 campaign

David Skippers
Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific champions 2022 - PA.jpg

Super Rugby Pacific organisers have announced that several law innovations will be enforced for the upcoming campaign, which kicks off on Friday, February 24.

Among the law innovations introduced are time restrictions on goal-kicks, set-pieces and rucks, as well as a streamlined TMO (television match official process).

The aim of these changes are to make the game faster and more fluid than ever before.

Referees are set to enforce time limits on the following: 90 seconds on conversions, 60 seconds for penalty kicks, 30 seconds for scrums and line-outs to be set, and 5 seconds for the ball to be used at rucks, while TMOs will only interrupt play for serious, clear and obvious incidents of foul play.

Super Rugby Pacific tournament director Matt Barlow said the participating teams agreed on the law innovations, with the support of World Rugby, and were designed to make the game more entertaining for fans and safer and more enjoyable for players.

“We want Super Rugby Pacific to be the most entertaining, innovative and fastest professional rugby competition in the world,” he told Super Rugby Pacific’s official website. “We’ve listened to our fans and taken steps to reduce stoppages and video replays, increase flow and maintain the integrity of the competition and the safety of players in regard to yellow and red cards.

Plenty of excitement about the innovations

“Players, coaches and referees are excited about these innovations, and we believe they will create a better fan experience both at the game and for those watching on television.”

Barlow revealed that player welfare would not be endangered by the law innovations, which would put dangerous and foul play more in the limelight but do it in a way that did not have such a big impact on spectators’ viewing experience.

“The review process for dangerous play will be as vigorous as ever, and we believe TMOs will be able to make better judgements about the seriousness of foul play offences without the pressure of having to watch replays under stressful time constraints,” he explained. “There is also the addition of a stronger deterrent for deliberate foul play, with the referee having the option of issuing a full red card.

“We know players and fans don’t want to watch multiple frame-by-frame replays while they wait for the match to resume, so we believe we’ve struck the right balance.”

He added that it was also crucial to maintain the integrity of rugby by making sure important decisions were not rushed.

“TMOs will still be reviewing the two phases before a try is scored and can still be called upon by the referee to check things like the ball being grounded when a try has been scored,” said Barlow.

“The difference will be the match official team will lead the process, and viewers will not see as many replays.”

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