NRFU The location of the restart after a try had been scored, either a place-kick if the try had been converted or a drop-kick if the try-scoring team was unable to convert, was moved from the 25-yard line of the non-scoring team to the halfway line. After a player had been tackled a loose scrum was now ordered formed to allow the ball to be brought back into play. NRFU The punt-out, or kick-in, was abolished. In the event of the ball being kicked into touch, play would restart with a scrum 10 yards infield. NSWRFL The goal-line drop-out replaced drop-outs from the 25-yard line after the ball was played dead by a defender. A new version of the play-the-ball was created which consisted of two players from each team. The ball was contested by only the defending marker and tackled player who was playing the ball, the marker was required to keep both feet on the ground until the ball was dropped or placed. The other two players stood ready act as halfback should their teammate win the contest. NSWRFL The defending halfback would now feed the scrum, while the attacking side would have the loose-head. Previously, the player that fed the scrum had been the attacking halfback. It became mandatory for each team's forwards to pack-down into the scrum in a 3–2–1 formation. Scrums now had to be set a minimum of 10 yards from the touch line and a minimum of 5 yards from goal line. Players who were off-side at the time of the play-the-ball would now be penalised if they did not make an attempt to get on-side and interfere with or obstruct an opposing player. NSWRFL A five-yard ruck rule was introduced and applied to both teams, previously there had been a 'no-yard' ruck rule. This rule change lasted just one season. NSWRFL The no-yard ruck rule was reinstated. The dummy-half and second-marker were required to stand one yard behind the two men contesting the play-the-ball. NSWRFL The tap penalty was introduced. A team conceding a penalty was required to retire 10 yards . NSWRFL A three-yard ruck rule replaced the no-yard ruck rule and was applicable to both teams. No minimum distance replaced the one-yard minimum that the dummy-half and second-marker had previously had to stand behind their teammates contesting the play-the-ball. NSWRFL Scrums would now be set a minimum of 10 yards from the goal-line. A place kick from the halfway line was used for the kick-off restarting play after an unconverted try. A penalty on halfway would now be awarded if a kick-off went out on the full. NSWRFL A five-yard ruck rule, applying to both teams, was implemented; an increase from three yards . NSWRFL Defending teams would restart with a 25-yard optional kick should an attacking team make the ball dead.ARL, 2008: 1968–77 NSWRL A twenty-metre restart was given when the ball was caught on the full in the in-goal area by a member of the defending team. NSWRL The use of the handover was extended to those occasions on the sixth tackle when the attacking team knocked on, kicked out on the full, or ran into touch. When a scrum took place, all players standing outside it, apart from the halfback, had to stand a minimum of 5 metres back to be onside. NSWRL In-goal touch judges were introduced for the finals series. Any players chasing their team's kick from an offside position were required to remain 10 metres away from the opponent taking possession of the ball. This was an increase from 5 metres . NSWRL The distance the defensive line were taken back by the referee at the play-the-ball would now be measured from where the tackled player places the ball to play it. Previously the distance had been measured from the back foot of the marker but Mick Stone, the referees coaching coordinator, felt that this led to "fives" of varying lengths depending on where the markers stood. The defensive line at the play-the-ball would now be taken back 8 metres instead of 5 metres to compensate for the change in the position the distance was measured from. The 8-metre distance was amended mid-season. A ten-metre offside rule was introduced mid-season for non-markers on the defending team at the play-the-ball, amending the 8-metre rule introduced at the beginning of the season. ARL Unlimited interchanges were re-introduced. RFL 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 had been scored and the conversion attempt had been taken, the side that scored now kicked 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". At the play-the-ball, the side not in possession was barred from striking for the ball. This was an attempt to clean up the ruck. 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. ARL Striking by the defending marker at the play-the-ball was banned. The requirement for the attacking team to stand a minimum distance behind dummy-half at the play-the-ball was ended. The 40/20 rule was introduced to reward accurate kicking in general play and to disrupt the pattern of teams having turns at sets of six tackles. The rule gave the loose head and feed at the resulting scrum to a team that kicked the ball from behind their 40-metre line so that it bounced in the field of play before going into touch behind their opponent's 20-metre line. The rule also encouraged the defenders, usually wingers and fullbacks, to make a play for the ball instead of allowing it to leave play. New guidelines were introduced to combat 'dangerous throws'. Tackled players were banned from playing the ball forward to themselves. There was some concern that this could stifle play if a supporting teammate was slow to move into the dummy-half position to allow a play-the-ball. NRL A defending player jumping to catch the ball from an opponent's kick cannot be tackled mid-air. This rule was brought in due to safety consideration. The rule allows for defending players to tackle the attacking players in the air. There had been concerns from coaches that allowing an attacker to land with the ball before attempting a tackle could result in "uncontested tries" or a penalty try if a tackle was attempted while they were in the air; either of these scenarios was considered against the principles of the game. A team that finds touch with a kick from a 20-metre optional restart is awarded the loose head and feed at the scrum. If from a kick anywhere on the field, the defending team takes the ball dead, for example if they place one foot over the dead ball line before playing at the ball, the team must restart play with a goal-line drop-out. The defending team were allowed to strip the ball in the tackle if no more than two tacklers were in attendance. Limited interchanges were reintroduced, a maximum of 12 interchanges were now allowed using a pool of 4 replacements. RFL 20-metre restarts should be allowed to happen quickly and not be delayed by referees. The first and second halves would end the moment that the hooter sounds, in the past referees could use their discretion to let play continue if they felt the siren had sounded during play. NRL Should an attacking player be held up by defenders in-goal, they should carry on play with a play-the-ball on the 10-metre line. NRL Taps from penalty kicks to touch were now to be taken 20 metres infield. RFL If a team kicks the ball from a 20-metre restart and the ball bounces into touch or over the dead ball line they will be given head and feed at the resulting scrum. In the scrum the ball can no longer be trapped by the loose forward in an attempt to catch the opposition offside. If the scrum moves forwards and the ball comes from between and behind the inner feet of the second row forwards it will be deemed to be out of the scrum. Defenders, excluding the markers at a play-the-ball, must stand with both feet behind the referee's front foot to be judged onside. If over their try-line the defenders steal the ball from the attacking team when there is more than one defender involved in the tackle a penalty will be given rather than a penalty try. NRL An assistant on-field referee was introduced. A penalty can be applied by the referee against a defender where the attacking kicker has been tackled whilst they are in the air. The tap from penalty kick to touch to be taken 10 metres infield.
NRFU The location of the restart after a try had been scored, either a place-kick if the try had been converted or a drop-kick if the try-scoring team was unable to convert, was moved from the line of the non-scoring team to the halfway line. After a player had been tackled a loose scrum was now ordered formed to allow the ball to be brought back into play. NRFU The punt-out, or kick-in, was abolished. In the event of the ball being kicked into touch, play would restart with a scrum infield. NSWRFL The goal-line drop-out replaced drop-outs from the line after the ball was played dead by a defender. A new version of the play-the-ball was created which consisted of two players from each team. The ball was contested by only the defending marker and tackled player who was playing the ball, the marker was required to keep both feet on the ground until the ball was dropped or placed. The other two players stood ready act as halfback should their teammate win the contest. NSWRFL The defending halfback would now feed the scrum, while the attacking side would have the loose-head. Previously, the player that fed the scrum had been the attacking halfback. It became mandatory for each team's forwards to pack-down into the scrum in a 3–2–1 formation. Scrums now had to be set a minimum of from the touch line and a minimum of from goal line. Players who were off-side at the time of the play-the-ball would now be penalised if they did not make an attempt to get on-side and interfere with or obstruct an opposing player. NSWRFL A ruck rule was introduced and applied to both teams, previously there had been a 'no-yard' ruck rule. This rule change lasted just one season. NSWRFL The no-yard ruck rule was reinstated. The dummy-half and second-marker were required to stand behind the two men contesting the play-the-ball. NSWRFL The tap penalty was introduced. A team conceding a penalty was required to retire . NSWRFL A ruck rule replaced the no-yard ruck rule and was applicable to both teams. No minimum distance replaced the minimum that the dummy-half and second-marker had previously had to stand behind their teammates contesting the play-the-ball. NSWRFL Scrums would now be set a minimum of from the goal-line. A place kick from the halfway line was used for the kick-off restarting play after an unconverted try. A penalty on halfway would now be awarded if a kick-off went out on the full. NSWRFL A ruck rule, applying to both teams, was implemented; an increase from . NSWRFL Defending teams would restart with a optional kick should an attacking team make the ball dead.ARL, 2008: 1968–77 NSWRL A restart was given when the ball was caught on the full in the in-goal area by a member of the defending team. NSWRL The use of the handover was extended to those occasions on the sixth tackle when the attacking team knocked on, kicked out on the full, or ran into touch. When a scrum took place, all players standing outside it, apart from the halfback, had to stand a minimum of back to be onside. NSWRL In-goal touch judges were introduced for the finals series. Any players chasing their team's kick from an offside position were required to remain away from the opponent taking possession of the ball. This was an increase from . NSWRL The distance the defensive line were taken back by the referee at the play-the-ball would now be measured from where the tackled player places the ball to play it. Previously the distance had been measured from the back foot of the marker but Mick Stone, the referees coaching coordinator, felt that this led to "fives" of varying lengths depending on where the markers stood. The defensive line at the play-the-ball would now be taken back instead of to compensate for the change in the position the distance was measured from. The distance was amended mid-season. A offside rule was introduced mid-season for non-markers on the defending team at the play-the-ball, amending the rule introduced at the beginning of the season. ARL Unlimited interchanges were re-introduced. RFL Scrums were now to be set from the touch-line, with the aim of creating attacking opportunities. At the restart after a try had been scored and the conversion attempt had been taken, the side that scored now kicked 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". At the play-the-ball, the side not in possession was barred from striking for the ball. This was an attempt to clean up the ruck. 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. ARL Striking by the defending marker at the play-the-ball was banned. The requirement for the attacking team to stand a minimum distance behind dummy-half at the play-the-ball was ended. The 40/20 rule was introduced to reward accurate kicking in general play and to disrupt the pattern of teams having turns at sets of six tackles. The rule gave the loose head and feed at the resulting scrum to a team that kicked the ball from behind their line so that it bounced in the field of play before going into touch behind their opponent's line. The rule also encouraged the defenders, usually wingers and fullbacks, to make a play for the ball instead of allowing it to leave play. New guidelines were introduced to combat 'dangerous throws'. Tackled players were banned from playing the ball forward to themselves. There was some concern that this could stifle play if a supporting teammate was slow to move into the dummy-half position to allow a play-the-ball. NRL A defending player jumping to catch the ball from an opponent's kick cannot be tackled mid-air. This rule was brought in due to safety consideration. The rule allows for defending players to tackle the attacking players in the air. There had been concerns from coaches that allowing an attacker to land with the ball before attempting a tackle could result in "uncontested tries" or a penalty try if a tackle was attempted while they were in the air; either of these scenarios was considered against the principles of the game. A team that finds touch with a kick from a optional restart is awarded the loose head and feed at the scrum. If from a kick anywhere on the field, the defending team takes the ball dead, for example if they place one foot over the dead ball line before playing at the ball, the team must restart play with a goal-line drop-out. The defending team were allowed to strip the ball in the tackle if no more than two tacklers were in attendance. Limited interchanges were reintroduced, a maximum of 12 interchanges were now allowed using a pool of 4 replacements. RFL restarts should be allowed to happen quickly and not be delayed by referees. The first and second halves would end the moment that the hooter sounds, in the past referees could use their discretion to let play continue if they felt the siren had sounded during play. NRL Should an attacking player be held up by defenders in-goal, they should carry on play with a play-the-ball on the line. NRL Taps from penalty kicks to touch were now to be taken infield. RFL If a team kicks the ball from a restart and the ball bounces into touch or over the dead ball line they will be given head and feed at the resulting scrum. In the scrum the ball can no longer be trapped by the loose forward in an attempt to catch the opposition offside. If the scrum moves forwards and the ball comes from between and behind the inner feet of the second row forwards it will be deemed to be out of the scrum. Defenders, excluding the markers at a play-the-ball, must stand with both feet behind the referee's front foot to be judged onside. If over their try-line the defenders steal the ball from the attacking team when there is more than one defender involved in the tackle a penalty will be given rather than a penalty try. NRL An assistant on-field referee was introduced. A penalty can be applied by the referee against a defender where the attacking kicker has been tackled whilst they are in the air. The tap from penalty kick to touch to be taken infield.
D
25-yard
D
10 yards
D
25-yard
D
10 yards
D
5 yards
D
five-yard
D
one yard
D
10 yards
D
three-yard
D
one-yard
D
10 yards
D
five-yard
D
three yards
D
25-yard
D
twenty-metre
D
5 metres
D
10 metres
D
5 metres
R
8 metres instead of 5 metres
instead of
D
8-metre
D
ten-metre
D
8-metre
D
20 metres
D
40-metre
D
20-metre
D
20-metre
D
20-metre
D
10-metre
D
20 metres
D
20-metre
D
10 metres