International Rugby League (IRL) have approved nine law amendments for 2026 that will impact all levels of the sport, from Super League to grassroots.
The IRL are the sport’s overarching governing body and after their latest Laws Advisory Committee meeting, a total of nine new law amendments have been put forward and will be implemented immediately across all levels of the sport.
That Laws Advisory Committee included the RFL’s Phil Bentham as well as representatives from other governing bodies, including the NRL’s head of officiating Graham Annesley.
The RFL had already introduced some new rules for Super League ahead of the 2026 season with a focus on how much time the kicker can take, with a 60-second shot clock implemented as well as a speeding up of the video referee process in regards to on-field calls of ‘try’.
Now, the IRL have announced nine amendments that will impact Super League, the NRL, the Championship, Challenge Cup, and all other levels of the sport.
IRL confirms law amendments ahead of 2026 season
The new law amendments are all listed below with two relating to playing the ball, two relating to the scrum, and a number of other areas addressed.
Locking the ball into the scrum
Players will be penalised for deliberately locking the ball in the scrum with a full penalty awarded against the offending team.
Packing the scrum
The loose forward must pack the scrum by placing their head between the second rowers and wrapping their arms around them.
Grounding the ball
Dropping on the ball and covering it with the front part of the body above the waist and below the neck grounds the ball. This clarifies that a try cannot be scored/ball cannot be grounded with the back.
Active and passive offside
Relating to kick chases – Players shall not encroach within 10m of an opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall immediately retire from any opponent who first secures the ball.
Offside players who are within 10m must not play an active part in or impact any subsequent play (ie: remain passive) up the next play-the-ball or stoppage, unless they place themselves back onside by retiring behind the point of the kick.
This is to allow fluidity of play and reduce unnecessary penalties for technical infringements.
Player safety
Defenders must make a genuine attempt, that is not late, high or dangerous contact, when attempting to tackle a kicker if they are in a vulnerable position.
Playing the ball
Tackled players shall without delay regain their feet, lift the ball clear of the ground, and place it onto the ground. This amendment clarifies that dropping the ball onto the ground constitutes a knock on.
The tackled player must make a genuine attempt to play the ball backwards with the foot.
Rugby union-style mauls
Players cannot lend weight to a teammate in possession to gain momentum. If this happens, the referee should call ‘Held’.
Blocking
When tacklers try to push, pull or carry the ball-carrier, teammates of the ball-carrier can lend weight in order to avoid losing ground. If this happens, the referee should call ‘Held’. An attacking player cannot impede a defender from making a tackle though.
Check out the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show on our YouTube channel here.
The IRL Board has approved amendments to the international Laws of the game following recommendations by the IRL Laws Advisory Group to encourage fluidity of play, provide clarity to players and match officials, and improve player safety.
📰Full details: https://t.co/2y5b6cFSWi pic.twitter.com/A0zTt1M5ha
— International Rugby League (@IntlRugbyLeague) January 9, 2026
Pauly
January 11, 2026 at 10:42 am
Glad the locking the ball in the scrum has been outlawed – gamesmanship of the highest order plus hope the refs clamp down hard on players not playing the ball properly – Tom Davies take note.
Graham Codd
January 11, 2026 at 10:43 am
I assume the kick chase rule refers only to players offside when the kick is made. Not sure about grounding. Does this mean that you can make a ball dead without grounding it? I refer in particular to the Tom Davis try in the 2025 Challenge Cup final when the ball was covered but not grounded by the defender.
John Dalton
January 11, 2026 at 1:17 pm
I hope that eventually, all the rugby union type mauls are removed from the game. It is not pretty, and it genuinely looks like a classic case of bullying. Commentators get excited by it, but in my mind, it has no place in the game. Being shoved up, down or across the pitch, is not attractive. it must put some players into a dangerous position, where they are being propelled in a direction that they never intended. Scrums are one thing, at least the members therein have some expectance, that they may be propelled in the wrong direction, but even hereit still could be classed as dangerous.
There is always more we can do………….