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Law changes for the 2025 season are set to be confirmed this week.

Captain's challenge is coming to Super League in 2025. Rugby League Live can reveal that the rule, which has become an important addition to the NRL in recent years, is set to be formally approved this week.

The addition of the rule, which allows a team to contest a decision that they believe was incorrectly given against them, will finally come to the Northern Hemisphere next year, with the addition set to be signed off at a laws committee on Tuesday.

Sources across Super League have confirmed that they have been made aware of the addition, which is set to be the standout law change heading into the 2025 season.

Officials had been keen to introduce the concept last season once all Super League games were to be broadcast but logistical challenges meant that had to be shelved. Twelve months on, a solution has been found which will allow it to be implemented next season.

Captain's challenge will be the main change in 2025, with radical changes to the tackle height laws put on hold after encouraging evidence from the most recent campaign. As such, a decision has been made to gain further data to assess head contacts before making any major changes.

Captain's challenge has been used in the NRL since 2020 and it allows teams to challenge certain decisions made by referees including knock-ons on dropouts. Only a captain or nominated player can make the challenge and each team is only allowed one unsuccessful challenge per game.

Further changes, such as amendments to the video referee protocols, are not expected to be brought in next year. There have been growing calls to remove the on-field decision before a match official refers the call to the video ref. However, that is not expected to be implemented in 2025.


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

I don't mind the CC, but wouldn't want to see the recent daft changes to re-start rules that were introduced in the NRL.

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 7:37 pm Law changes for the 2025 season are set to be confirmed this week.

Captain's challenge is coming to Super League in 2025. Rugby League Live can reveal that the rule, which has become an important addition to the NRL in recent years, is set to be formally approved this week.

The addition of the rule, which allows a team to contest a decision that they believe was incorrectly given against them, will finally come to the Northern Hemisphere next year, with the addition set to be signed off at a laws committee on Tuesday.

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

Fantastic!!!!!!!!! Does this mean every saints game is going to be 3 hours long whilst they're constantly complaining about decisions not in "their favour"?

My god now the game will grind even longer

We should point out when the ref gets it wrong in our favour and play fair.

Captain’s Challenge will be introduced to northern hemisphere Rugby League on a regular basis in 2025, starting from Round One of the Betfred Super League in February.
That was one of four laws changes accepted by the Rugby Football League Board at their meeting on Tuesday, following their recommendation by the RFL’s Laws Committee.

The new law will allow the captains in all televised fixtures in 2025 – also including the Betfred Challenge Cup, and the Women’s Super League and Challenge Cup – to refer a range of on-field decisions to the video referee.

But captains will have to use their challenge wisely, as each team will only be allowed one unsuccessful challenge in each fixture.

Full details of the policy around Captain’s Challenge, and the other new laws approved this week – regarding the use of the green card for injured players, offside kick chasers, and to encourage creativity around drop-outs – have been published on the RFL website Law Changes – 2025.pdf https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 202025.pdf


The RFL Board have also approved a significant amendment to the recommendations relating to head contact that were introduced last winter, meaning that the regulations around head contact from Tiers 1-3 – Men’s and Women’s Super League, Championship and League One – will remain as they were in 2024.

This follows a significant reduction in concussive and sub-concussive events in the Betfred Super League in 2024, measured by the widespread use of instrumented mouthguards.

Wednesday’s meeting of the Rugby League Council passed the resolutions required to confirm the following decisions:

Goole Vikings, who had already been confirmed to enter Betfred League One in 2025, will do so as members of the RFL;

Adam Hills MBE will succeed Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP as President of the RFL on a two-year term running until December 2026;

He will be supported by two Vice Presidents – the former England Women international Danika Priim, and the Swinton Lions Chief Executive Steve Wild.

A special resolution proposed by Batley Bulldogs to amend the Club Grading Model relating to promotion and relegation between the Betfred Championship and Super League was defeated by 63% to 37%.

However a number of other amendments to the grading criteria which had been proposed by IMG, the sport’s long-term strategic partners, following consulation with clubs have been approved by the RFL Board.

These apply to the digital, viewing, stadium and community pillars, as well as to the minimum standards supporting the grading criteria – and are published in full on the RFL website – Club Grading Criteria 2025.pdf https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/do ... 202025.pdf


Tony Sutton, the RFL Chief Executive, confirmed to Council that Sam Horner, the Leeds Rhinos Community Clubs Development Officer, has been added to the RFL’s Roll of Honour – which was introduced two decades ago “to recognise individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport across both playing and off-field service”.

Accepting his nomination as RFL President, Adam Hills MBE said: “I am both chuffed and stoked to be confirmed as the incoming President of the RFL. I plan to use my Presidency (and the gold chains) to increase the profile of the great sport of Rugby League, and to shine a spotlight on the Wheelchair, Physical Disability and Learning Disability variants of the game.

“Rugby League is not just a sport, it’s a family, and I’ve already been bombarded with invitations to visit clubs from Workington to Cornwall and everywhere in between.

“I look forward to meeting as many members of the Rugby League community as I can, and to swapping stories about the sport we love.

“I’m also looking forward to working with my two Vice Presidents, Danika Priim and Stephen Wild – who may have to share the chains when England play Australia.”

Simon Johnson, the RFL Chair, paid tribute to Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, the outgoing President: “I want to thank Sir Lindsay for everything he has done for the sport as our President. It has been a real honour and privilege for our sport to have someone of the status of the Speaker of the House of Commons working on our behalf and attending so many of our events, with such an authentic enthusiasm and passion for Rugby League.”

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/12/ ... d-in-2025/

Just reading the new law changes and the drop outs, am I missing something but what advantage is there of a play the ball as opposed to a penalty kick on the 10, line, assuming it is not a kick at goal i.e. two point conversion.

Derrick gets his 0.0625 points back for his pixel pitch. Thank God!

fozzie58 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2024 8:44 pm My god now the game will grind even longer

Last orders will have passed before we leave our seats!

WarriorWinger wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2024 4:43 pm Just reading the new law changes and the drop outs, am I missing something but what advantage is there of a play the ball as opposed to a penalty kick on the 10, line, assuming it is not a kick at goal i.e. two point conversion.

None, in my view it is a poor rule.