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, are as follows:
Rugby League Laws Changes for 2025
The following changes were recommended by the RFL’s Laws Committee, and approved by the RFL Board yesterday:
Captain’s Challenge
This will be introduced at all televised fixtures with a video referee in 2025, allowing the captain of either team – or a nominated stand-in if the captain is off the field – to refer a specific range of decisions to the video referee.
Each team will be entitled to one unsuccessful challenge per match.
Time Limit: a captain has until the referee is ready to recommence play, upon which the challenge time frame will lapse; the referee will not unduly delay the restart of play; there will be 10 seconds from the referee communicating the decision (by signal and verbally).
The challenge is only permissible in instances where the referee blows the whistle to stop play (except for stoppages for injury or suspected injury)
Decisions that cannot be challenged are: Forward Pass; Roll Ball; Discretionary penalties (10m/marker oHside, ruck infringements relating to the speed of the play the ball, tackled into touch or in-goal after the held call); the mark of a penalty; time wasting; dissent; deliberate forward pass; scrum penalties.
Contested Drop Outs
If a team kicks a drop out on the full over the touchline or kicks a drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball 10 metres out from the centre of the goal line rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 10 metre line.
If a team takes a 20 metre drop out and it travels on the full over the touchline or kicks a 20m drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball from the centre of the 20 metre line, rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 20 metre line.
NOTE – kicks must be capable of being contested in the opinion of the referee Offside Kick Chasers Referees and video referees will now differentiate between active and passive players when awarding penalties for offside.
An active player will be defined as one who takes part in and/or influenced the course of the game.
A passive player will be defined as one who does not influence the course of the game.
Green Card
Now applies to attacking players as well as and defending players.
Should the referee call time off either themselves or at the request of either a Physio, Doctor or Head Trainer to allow a player to receive attention then the protocols set out in the Timekeeping protocols will be followed and the player will either leave the field for a concussion assessment, be interchanged, leave the field of play and return immediately once an interchange card is handed over or leave the field for 2 minutes of elapsed playing time before being allowed to re enter the field.
Should the Referee call time off either themselves or at the request of either a physio, Doctor or head trainer for an injury that results from a penalty for foul play, the injured player will not be subject to the green card policy as outlined.
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.
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