More rule tweaks are in store as 2026 Super Rugby Pacific teams prepare for the season kick-off next weekend.
Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley says they “want to be a competition that encourages quick taps and faster restarts, cuts down on unnecessary stoppages and embraces attacking rugby”.
He says the tweaks “reflect their desire to deliver an entertaining competition to the world”, he said.
“From members and fans to players, coaches and referees, we continue to experience resounding support for the measured steps that we’re taking to refine the game,” he says.
“Part of the problem … Super Rugby across 30 years has had so many different guises,” Mesley told Australian Associated Press.
“Right now, our focus is making sure rugby fans know our teams, players, competition, as it is right now.
“We’re in no rush to change it again.
“The job is to solidify … everyone wants to talk about expansion, going to Japan, the US, (but) the job is to cement our competition as it is.”
FIVE TWEAKS FOR 2026
No mandatory card for a defending player when the ref awards a penalty try.
Free kicks for accidental offsides or too slow clearances from a ruck, not scrums.
Once the ref calls “use it” at the ruck, no other attacking player can join in.
Teams can now pass the ball back into their half before attempting a 50-22 kick.
Players can take quick taps within one metre of the mark if they are two metres in from touch.
Another tweak is that the television match official (TMO) can only intervene unasked if the referee has missed serious foul play or an obvious infringement in the lead-up to a try. Otherwise, the TMO will have to be asked by the referee.
Super (golden) Point remains in which teams play for an extra 10 minutes if scores are level at full-time.
The six-team finals series format from last season remains but with a tweak to the ‘lucky loser’ mechanism which allowed the highest seeded losing team in the qualifiers to still host a finals game.
Last year, the top-ranked Waikato Chiefs lost to Auckland Blues 19-20 in a qualifying final but still hosted a semi-final game when they defeated the ACT Brumbies 37-17; the Blues went on to lose to the Crusaders 21-14 in the semi-finals.
The format was criticised and organisers this year added to the rule tweaks by ensuring that the highest ranked loser from the qualifiers will advance to the semi-finals as fourth seed, ensuring they play away from home even if they make the grand finals.
OPENING ROUND
The opening clash is set for Dunedin, New Zealand, on Friday, February 13, as the Highlanders host rivals and neighbours Crusaders.
Afterwards, in Sydney, NSW meets Queensland and on Saturday, the Fijian Drua host Moana Pasifika in Lautoka, the Blues take on the Chiefs at Eden Park and the Brumbies host the WA Force in Canberra. Click here for the fixtures
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