The Rugby Football League has confirmed that the captain’s challenge will be introduced into Super League and other competitions from 2025. The rule has been used to varying degrees of success in the NRL for some time with captains having the opportunity to challenge a referee’s decision during the game.
Super League skippers will now be given the same privilege with the rule being brought in as one of four law changes for the upcoming season. Alterations have also been approved regarding the use of green cards for injured players, offside kick chasers and drop-outs.
The captain’s challenge will be used in all televised games with a video referee and will be in use from round one of Super League in February, meaning it will also be used in the Challenge Cup and the Women’s Super League.
Each team will be entitled to one unsuccessful challenge with a time limit being placed on when each challenge can be made, with captains having until the referee is ready to restart play to communicate their decisions. A challenge can only be used when the referee has blown his whistle to halt play and cannot be used in regards to forward passes, discretionary penalties, time wasting, the mark of the penalty or scrum penalties.
The green card changes ensure rules now apply to attacking players as well as defending players. Should a referee be forced to stop play while a player receives medical attention, the player will leave the field for either a head injury assessment, be interchanged, leave the field and return immediately once an interchange card has been handed over, or leave the field for two minutes of playing time. Should play stop while a player receives treatment due to a penalty or four play, the injuries player will not be subject to green card policy.
In regards to offside kick chasers, referees will now differentiate between active and passive players when awarding penalties for offside, with active player being defined as someone who has taken part in or influenced play.
Changes to drop-outs have also been made, play will restart with a play the ball 10m out should a team kick a drop out over the touchline on the full or fail to kick it 10m forward. Should the same happen from a 20m drop-out, play will restart on the 20m line in a similar fashion, rather than a penalty kick.
