Club reveals major change to rugby league disciplinary process as 'points system' introduced

[josie andrews]

A major change has been made to rugby league’s controversial disciplinary system.

A points-based format has replaced the former method of punishing players found guilty of on-field misconduct. That will avoid immediate bans for minor offences, but mean sanctions get tougher the more times a player is charged and found or pleads guilty.

Points will be deducted from the punishment if a player is sent-off, but failed appeals will lead to their tally being increased. The overhaul has been revealed by Betfred League One club Keighley Cougars after their player Brad England was charged by the RFL’s match review panel with ‘grade D reckless physical contact with a match official’ during a Christmas fixture at Bradford Bulls.

Twelve points were added to his disciplinary record from the previous system, taking him to 18 under the totting-up procedure and leading to a three-match ban. The RFL have not confirmed or commented on the change, but according to Cougars’ website, grade A offences will add one point to a player’s record, with three for grade B, five for grade C and 12 for grade D.

Players facing a grade E charge will be called to appear before a disciplinary tribunal which will decide the appropriate punishment.

The points tariff is as follows:

zero-two points - no further action;
three-five - fine;
six-eight - one-match suspension;
nine-11 - one-match suspension and fine;
12-14 - two-match suspension;
15-17 - two-match suspension and fine;
18-20 - three-match suspension;
21-23 - three-match suspension and fine;
24-26 - four-match suspension;
27-29 four-match suspension and fine;
30-32 five-match suspension;
33-35 - five-match suspension and fine;
36-38 - six-match suspension and fine;
39-41 - seven-match suspension and fine;
42-44 - eight-match suspension and fine;
45-47 - nine-match suspension and fine;
48-50 - 10-match suspension and fine;
51-53 - 11-match suspension and fine;
54-plus - minimum 12-match suspension and fine.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ed-4939547

[Mike]

When do the points get cancelled? When the punishment is handed out. Like if you got three points and paid a fine, are those points gone now?

Or if you got a three match ban on 18 points, and then got another one point, do you now get 19 points and another 3 match ban? Its not clear to me.

[buttmonkey2]

From what I've read Mike is that the scores are accumulative and last one year from first received - essentially increasing each and every punishment for every time an individual is referred

It was not clear if the remaining points carry over once the anniversary was made or the slate is wiped so as to speak

[Charriots Offiah]

From what I've read Mike is that the scores are accumulative and last one year from first received - essentially increasing each and every punishment for every time an individual is referred

It was not clear if the remaining points carry over once the anniversary was made or the slate is wiped so as to speak

That’s my understanding as well. The more crimes you commit the longer the sentence. I think a suspension will be carried over to the following season, as it is now, but like BM I am unsure if any points get carried over.

[josie andrews]

Super League's new disciplinary system explained after radical overhaul

Some big changes have been made to the disciplinary process next season.

The Rugby Football League has overseen a huge overhaul of their disciplinary procedures ahead of the 2025 season with a new system implemented to determine bans moving forward.

In what is a radical change, a new points-based system has been introduced to determine how and when players receive bans moving forward.

But how have we got to this point? Here's everything you need to know.

The background

A tip of the hit must go to Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney here. It was he who first suggested a process like this and shared it publicly last year. And seemingly, the RFL are a fan of it after deciding to introduce it.

But how does it actually work?

In a nutshell, it works in a very similar fashion to the driving penalty points system. Moving forward, if a player is charged for an offence, they will incur points on their 'licence', so to speak.

The number of points they receive depends on the severity of the charge. Charges are still determined the same way, based on the Grade system that has been in place for several years. The higher the grade, the more serious the offence.

But the difference now is that receiving a charge won't immediately result in a ban or a fine. Instead, the points for the charge will be added to their record.

Points received for each charge per grade

Grade A: 1 point
Grade B: 3 points
Grade C: 5 points
Grade D: 12 points
Grade E: Refer to Tribunal

How many points does a player need to accumulate before receiving a ban, you ask? Well, that has been explained too. The benchmarks are below:

6-11 points: one-match ban
12-17 points: two matches
18-23 points: three matches
24-29 points: four matches
30-35 points: five matches
36-38 points: six matches
39-41 points: seven matches
42-44 points: eight matches
45-47 points: nine matches
48-50 points: ten matches
51-53 points: eleven matches
54+ points: twelve matches

Essentially, as players incur more points, the length of their suspension will increase. Repeat offenders will eventually amass fairly hefty suspensions. It is worth noting that offences only stay on a player's record for twelve months, so should a player receive a charge on a certain date this year, the points will be removed on the same day the year after.

While it might be tricky keeping a track of how many points every player has on their licence, the system is relatively easy to follow. That is, until, you start the read the small print.

The loopholes

While the scoring system is quite easy to follow, there are additional rules that do make it somewhat confusion. We'll try to break it down and keep it simple here.

Players who cause injuries will be punished. If a player is charged for an offence that results in an opponent being unable to stay on the field, they charge will come with an additional three-point penalty. So if a Grade C charge is issued and the incident resulted in an injury, the offender would have eight points placed on their record, rather than five.

Points for charges will be reduced if a player is sent off. To recognise the fact players and teams have already been punished by having a player dismissed, charges for red card offences won't be as severe. A charge will result in two fewer points being imposed if a player is sent off in the first half and one point if it's in the second half.

So if a player received a Grade D charge for a red card incident that took place in the first half, it would result in them receiving 10 points, rather than 12.

Unsuccessful appeals will be severely punished. Clubs still have the right to appeal charges, however, if they are unable to overturn it, an extra five points will be added to a player's record. That's a pretty extreme punishment on the face of it, especially when you consider there are countless examples where an appeal has been considered to have substance but still not overturned. However, that is going to be the case.

There's a bit for everyone to get their head around there, but it certainly works on the face of it.

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... m-30760112

[WarriorWinger]

I think there should be some kind of reduction for those who don't get into trouble for a period of time as they could commit 2 12 point offences early in the season then not be called up again for the rest of the season, then commit a very low grade offence then get a 3-4 game ban at the end of the season, sounds good in principal and encourages players to behave but we all know some of the senseless offences players can get called up for.

[Mike]

I think there should be some kind of reduction for those who don't get into trouble for a period of time as they could commit 2 12 point offences early in the season then not be called up again for the rest of the season, then commit a very low grade offence then get a 3-4 game ban at the end of the season, sounds good in principal and encourages players to behave but we all know some of the senseless offences players can get called up for.

I think the points leave your record after 12 months, so that's the period of time.

So is this right - if you get enough points for a 3 match ban in pre-season, and serve it. If you get a single point later in the year, you get another 3 match ban? Sounds pretty harsh, because those non-ban referrals get given out all the time for things that no one can even see on the replays! But it should encourage players to stick to the rules, and it will at least be transparent and consistent. The panel now just decides guilty/not guilty and there are clear rules based on points for rejected appeals, repeat offenses that fall below a ban for each individual offense etc. The grading is going to be the most important bit where fans can complain now.

[WarriorWinger]

I think there should be some kind of reduction for those who don't get into trouble for a period of time as they could commit 2 12 point offences early in the season then not be called up again for the rest of the season, then commit a very low grade offence then get a 3-4 game ban at the end of the season, sounds good in principal and encourages players to behave but we all know some of the senseless offences players can get called up for.

I think the points leave your record after 12 months, so that's the period of time.

So is this right - if you get enough points for a 3 match ban in pre-season, and serve it. If you get a single point later in the year, you get another 3 match ban? Sounds pretty harsh, because those non-ban referrals get given out all the time for things that no one can even see on the replays! But it should encourage players to stick to the rules, and it will at least be transparent and consistent. The panel now just decides guilty/not guilty and there are clear rules based on points for rejected appeals, repeat offenses that fall below a ban for each individual offense etc. The grading is going to be the most important bit where fans can complain now.

As far as I am aware Mike that is right and was the point I was trying to make in my post, I understand they are wiped after 12 months but like you say, you could get a 3 match ban at the beginning of the season, be squeaky clean all year, then commit a very low grade offence that is worth say one point, then get another 3 match ban, seems very harsh as I say given you very often don't even see an offence being committed but a player gets cited for it.

[Mike]

I suppose you made your bed when you got the 3 match ban and now you have to lie in it. At least its very clear that's going to happen in this system.

[WarriorWinger]

It's clear albeit a little bit unfair in as much as it doesn't reward a player who 'changes their ways' as such as the points stay there and don't 'drop off' unless I have misread the way it works.

For a player as an individual it is better to get sent off for the offence as it reduces the points by two if sent off in the first half and by one if sent off in the second