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

[fozzie58]

Yes. Liam Byrne loses the majority of his points in March. Not sure about Harry Smith. When did his big ban happen?

Leeds game in the summer

[josie andrews]

Sam Burgess hits out at RFL disciplinary system roll-out

SAM Burgess has launched a scathing attack on the way the Rugby Football League’s revamped disciplinary system has been rolled out.

From admitting he heard about the new system in the media to raising the possibility of not accepting any sanctions handed down in friendly fixtures, the Warrington Wolves head coach was heavily critical of the lack of information he had received as well as features of the new way of handing out on-field punishments.

It has been widely reported that the 2025 season’s new disciplinary system will see players accumulate points depending on the grading of their offence, with suspensions triggered when a certain number of points are accrued.

The RFL have still not publicly confirmed the introduction of the new system, and Burgess told the press assembled at The Wire’s pre-season media day that he had only been told what it entails earlier today.

He took issue with the expected notion that suspensions incurred during the 2024 season will be carried over and applied to the new system, meaning the likes of Paul Vaughan could find themselves being handed a lengthy ban for even a minor offence.

“I was sent that this morning, so no,” Burgess said when asked about whether or not he and other head coaches had been contacted about the changes.

“I’m just telling the truth – we’re three weeks out from the season and I was told about it this morning. There’s a lot of frustrating stuff.

“I think the system looks alright from what I’ve seen of it but nothing should carry over. It’s a new season so how does that work?

“All of the players have paid the price for their past indiscretions, so let’s move on. If we’re having a new system, just start it now.

“I read about it in the press before I was told about it, probably like most head coaches.”

With Warrington’s first pre-season friendly against Widnes Vikings coming up on Friday, Burgess questioned how he was supposed to accept any potential sanctions from the game under the new system if it had not been properly explained to him or his players.

“I got in touch with the league in mid-December to see if they’d come out and give us the new legislation and rules, which Paul Cullen did last year and it was very informative,” he said.

“But they said they weren’t ready for it and now, a month later, we’ve still not had anyone out to explain what’s going on.

“We’re playing a game in 24 hours and I don’t know what they’re going to do if they want to sanction one of my players because I just won’t accept it.

“What am I supposed to do? It’s tough, isn’t it?

“We’re all playing the same rules but if they’re changing the system, it’s not been explained to us.”

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... -roll-out/

[endoman]

He's 100% correct. Clean slate needed.

[the pieman]

Typical RFL

[archiekeith]

Typical RFL

Maybe but in response to Sam's query reported in Josie's post "hoe does that work then? ) my guess, and it's only a guess Points accumulated in one season will be carried over to the next Silmple what a

[archiekeith]

Further to my last post I am in favour of any rule change that will have a tendency to help in the rules of the game being upheld!

[the pieman]

Further to my last post I am in favour of any rule change that will have a tendency to help in the rules of the game being upheld!

i've no issue with the change as such, other than for example Liam Byrne was sent off v Saints last year and served an X game ban. he's now walking the tightrope of being banned again for the same incident, if he does anything wrong up to the equivalent of Good Friday this year, so any minor indiscretion means he cops a longer ban due to points already accrued

They are implementing a new system, and to justify it, creating a scoring system for last year which was managed under different rules, but Ozzies coming over here, start with a clean slate, its just so inconsistent. how can a player from 1 league have a punishment for last season, but another player doesnt. The whole thing should have started from a clean slate for every player, and then points accrued this season, carry over to next, and drop off after 12 months, thats far fairer than what they are doing

my "typical RFL" was more around "no communication" to the clubs about the change, Burgess saying he heard from the press and its still not officially communicated from the RFL when we start the season in under a months time

[moto748]

It's a shambles, and the head coaches should get together and say, we're just not having this.

[josie andrews]

RFL U-turn on disciplinary guidelines following Sam Burgess' spray

The RFL are bringing in new sentencing guidelines... but not quite as was originally intended.

The Rugby Football League has backtracked on its new on-field sentencing guidelines - and will now “reconsider” some of its details.

Warrington boss Sam Burgess yesterday expressed his dismay about the intricacies of a new points-based system to deal with disciplinary matters.

He claimed he initially only found out about it via the media and was only emailed by the governing body yesterday morning.

Each on-field misconduct charge is worth a certain number of points and when players pass a threshold in any 12-month period they are hit with an automatic suspension.

But points have also been carried over from last year, something Burgess felt was unfair to players who had already served bans.

His side have their opening pre-season friendly against Widnes tonight and the ex-England captain insisted he wouldn’t accept any sanction from the match review panel if his players did fall foul of the laws.

With the new season less than four weeks away, there had been no official announcement from the RFL about the new points-based system and its workings.

But this evening the governing body made the following statement: “All clubs were circulated with changes to the on-field sentencing guidelines for 2025 in mid-December.

“These guidelines are for Betfred Men’s and Women’s Super League, plus Betfred Championship and League One.

“The changes followed consultation with clubs at all levels in the mid-season regulatory meetings in May 2024, and ratification by the RFL’s Laws Committee – which includes representatives from clubs, coaches and players - followed by approval by RFL Board.

“While there is support for the broad direction of travel, following feedback from various levels of the sport, the RFL has agreed to reconsider some of the detail of the changes, specifically relating to historic charges (from the 2024 season).

“The final version of the guidelines will therefore be published in the first week of February, before the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup, and following a scheduled meeting of Laws Committee on January 29, which is followed by the RFL Board – as well as further consultation with clubs and other stakeholders.”

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 48a1cfd938

[moto748]

“All clubs were circulated with changes to the on-field sentencing guidelines for 2025 in mid-December.

“These guidelines are for Betfred Men’s and Women’s Super League, plus Betfred Championship and League One.

“The changes followed consultation with clubs at all levels in the mid-season regulatory meetings in May 2024, and ratification by the RFL’s Laws Committee – which includes representatives from clubs, coaches and players - followed by approval by RFL Board.


Surely these changes circulated in December wouldn't have included penalising players for last season's sins, otherwise we'd have heard more complaints earlier? Surely it's not the case that Sam Burgess just doesn't read his emails?