4 New Rule Changes for 2015. : Thu Dec 25, 2014 10:11 am
Quotes are.1. Obstruction.
The application of the obstruction law will now focus on enabling the referee to allow play to continue unless the defending team has been materially disadvantaged.
The changes clarify the current obstruction policy and remove the ambiguity that caused some confusion for players and spectators alike during 2014.
An example would be where players cross but the tackle is still made just as it would have been without the crossing, play and the tackle count will continue as the attacking side have gained no advantage, or more to the point the defending side haven't lost out.
2.Concussion.
Teams will be allowed an extra "free" interchange in the event of a player suffering an injury that requires a pitch side concussion assessment.
The change is designed to safeguard players against unseen dangers of concussion by removing and sub-conscious pressure on medical staff to not be over cautious in removing a player from the field for an assessment.
3. Sin Bin.
The number of main areas in which sin binning is deemed to be the appropriate course of action is to be changed from 7 to 4 with the aim of helping referees impose immediate real time sanctions by reducing the number of on report decisions.
4. Video Referees.
A new law will be introduced to enable the referee to make a live decision during televised fixtures on any try before being referred to the 2 video referees. The system is similar to that used during the 2014 Four Nations and the NRL.
When a try is scored which the referee deems worthy of a review he will signal his decision " Try or No Try" before the video referees assess whether there is sufficient evidence to overturn his decision.
The process gives parity between televised games and non televised games with the referee being required to make a decision.