Trainers will be restricted from entering the field under new rule changes approved by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) for the new season.
But concerns raised during talks between the ARLC and NRL clubs put a proposed kick-off rule change on hold; the change would have given the team that conceded a try the choice of kicking off or receiving the kick-off.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys told nrl.com.au that the kick-off decision is the result of “legitimate concerns” raised with them.
“After weighing that feedback carefully, the commission determined that it was not in the best interests of the game to proceed with that particular change at this time,” he says.
“The changes are intended to build on the success of the 2025 season by enhancing the entertainment value for fans while providing additional tactical options for coaches.”
He says the game “is in a brilliant place”.
“The players are producing incredible feats and fans are responding.”
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TRAINERS RULE CHANGED
The following rule changes will take effect this season:
Trainers are to be restricted from entering the field of play to reduce them from carrying messages to players.
Teams may interchange four players up to eight times a match from a squad of six players (jersey numbers 14 to 19 inclusive).
There will be no seven-tackle set after a knock-on in-goal by the attacking team.
For some infringements beyond the 20-metre line, the tackle count will restart instead of the current 40-metre threshold.
GLOBAL VISION
Meanwhile, V’landys says Japan, Abu Dhabi, London and Hong Kong are among locations under consideration for more NRL season-opening matches.
This follows two seasons of hosting the season opener in Las Vegas in a cross-over with the UK’s Super League.
“For us the opportunity is there to take the NRL, NRLW and State of Origin to the rest of the world,” V’landys says.
“Las Vegas was our first big launchpad to that. Now we’re hard at work behind the scenes around what other venues we can take the game to.”
With two years left on the NRL deal to play at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, V’landys is floating the option of having the opening round matches played across the world.
He told nrl.com.au that they are also considering a model similar to the American football in which games are played overseas during the regular season.
“Japan is definitely interesting for us,” he says.
“It’s a country that has a lot of rugby union players, has a big following of rugby union and we think there’s an opportunity for rugby league to have a presence in Japan.”
Japan’s professional rugby union competition is known as Japanese Rugby League, formerly called the Top League.
MORE NRL NEWS: Perth to join the competition in 2027
