Substitution policy revised by Rugby Football League
According to an announcement made by the chief executive of Rugby Football League (RFL), Nigel Wood, on Tuesday, December 13, the number of the substitutions that can be made during a rugby league encounter have been reduced from 12 to 10.
This does not mean that clubs will not be allowed to have four reserve players as replacements. However, now more emphasis will be on the 17-man line up selected ahead of the game. With this revision, more uniformity is expected to be introduced into rugby
league games.
The very same interchange policy had been introduced by Australian National Rugby League (NRL) games and it is expected that the same will be adopted by the international games too.
This change will be embraced by all domestic competitions, including Super League and the Championship games. All friendly rugby league games will also abide by the latest policy, which means that the Boxing Day one-off friendly game between Leeds Rhinos
and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats at Headingley will also incorporate the newly introduced substitution policy.
There are a host of changes introduced alongside the substitution policy. According to the revised rule book players will be allowed to drop kick while attempting to convert a try. Also, players with possession and in contact with the corner flag during
a routine game, will not be acknowledged as a touch down.
Also, referees have been advised to be more lenient towards players. Instead of being penalised on missing out on the “held” call, the players will continue playing.
While talking to media about the changes introduced, Wood shared, "There are three different rules at the moment and it is a matter of tidying them up.”
It was further revealed by Wood that a series of international games will be played by England in the northern hemisphere instead of their previously scheduled tour to the land down under. The Four Nations Campaign 2011 was a huge success this year but as
the series will not be played until 2014, there will not be a lot happening at the international level because many nations including Australia and New Zealand have decided to give their players a long break until the mega sporting event in the world of Rugby
League, World Cup 2013.
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