Rugby League

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NEW FOR 2024

Significant changes to be introduced at all levels

Changes to Laws, Operational Rules and Medical Standards, and Coaching Interventions, following recommendations of Brain Health Sub-Committee to RFL Board
RecommendationLevelAge GroupTimeframeOutcomeNotes
Operational
1. Mandated Off-Season - DecemberCommunityAllEnd of the 2024 seasonTo reduce cumulative player load across the course of a year and career.This would mean no contact Rugby League activity after the third weekend in November until the start of the following January, at which part there would be a graduated return - with the expectations of established winter competitions including schools, colleges and student Rugby League.
2. Mandated Off-Season - Four-Week Off-SeasonProfessionalAllEnd of the 2024 seasonTo reduce cumulative player load across the course of a year and career.
3. Mandated Pre-Season - Two Weeks No ContactProfessionalAllEnd of the 2024 seasonTo reduce cumulative player load across the course of a year and career.
4. Players only playing to true age groupCommunityAllRolled out from 2024To reduce the risk of concussion through force. Also to retain players who see jump upward as too great.2024 – Players must play at their true age group at Under 6’s.
2024 – The age a player can play open age rugby league has been amended to true age Under 17 or 17th birthday. 

2025 – Players must play at their true age group at Under 7's.

2026 - Players must play at their true age group at Under 8's.

2027 - Players must play at their true age group at Under 9's. 
5. Mandated Education for community coaches (all), first aiders and CWOsCommunityAll2023-24To ensure that all players are aware of risk and how to mitigate and reduce risk of concussion and manage any concussions appropriately. 
6. Mandated Education players, coaches and CEOsProfessionalAll2024To ensure that all players are aware of risk and how to mitigate and reduce risk of concussion and manage any concussions appropriately. Stand downs enforced for those who do not complete ahead of the deadline.
7. Match Limits within a 12-month period for playersProfessionalAll2024To reduce cumulative player load across the course of a year and career.Different limits to be stipulated for backs and forwards. Full details to be confirmed.
On-Field Laws
8. Reducing tackle height to armpit and belowCommunitySenior2024Reducing the risk of concussion. 
9. Reducing tackle height to armpit and belowCommunityAge Grade2024Reducing the risk of concussion. 
10. Reducing tackle height to armpit and belowProfessionalSenior2025Reducing the risk of concussion. 
11. Reducing tackle height to armpit and belowProfessionalAge Grade2024Reducing the risk of concussion. 
12. Enforce law on contact with head and neck via sanction on-field through Match Officials. Including head-to-head contact including mitigation.ProfessionalAll2024Reducing the risk of concussions and also changing behaviour via compliance.
13. Retrospective review of on-field sanctionProfessionalBetfred Super League2024Reducing the risk of concussions and also changing behaviour via compliance.
14. Ball carrier dipping into contactProfessionalAll2025Reducing the risk of contact with the head of a tackler and ball carrier. Placing some responsibility on the ball carrier, rather than just the tackler.Notes to be reviewed in 2024 with updated data.
15. Ball carrier dipping into contactCommunityAll2025Reducing the risk of contact with the head of a tackler and ball carrier. Placing some responsibility on the ball carrier, rather than just the tackler.Notes to be reviewed in 2024 with updated data.
16. Investigate other law variations; play-the-ball with foot, six-again, more scrums & shot clock timesProfessional & CommunityAll2024Assess the impact these changes would have on the number and impact of collisions.
17. Introduction of a tackle school to re-educate and correct player actionsProfessionalAll2024Correcting behaviours of tacklers who make contact with the head or neck as part of the sanction.
18. Increase in off-field sanctionProfessional & CommunityAll2024Any direct contact without mitigation to the head - sanction (including head-to-head) starts at Grade D.
19. Consideration of other law modifications

- Five-metre retreat
- Two-player tackle
- One marker
- No lifting Ball Carrier
- No slinging/swinging/throwing players
- No falling on prone player
- No ankle taps
- Uncontested Scrums		CommunityAllTrial to be conducted in 2024 for the duration of a whole season.Theoretically reduce fatigue and therefore potential concussion risk factors.
20a. No Tackle - Mandated Touch or Tag. Enforce Primary Rugby League Handbook as Mandatory.CommunityU62024Reduce the risk of concussion from an upright position, reduce load and introduction of tackle programme over the course of a two-year period.
20b. No Tackle - Mandated Touch or Tag. Enforce Primary Rugby League Handbook as Mandatory.CommunityU72025Reduce the risk of concussion from an upright position, reduce load and introduction of tackle programme over the course of a two-year period.
21. No Tackle - Mandated Touch or Tag. Enforce Primary Rugby League Handbook as Mandatory.CommunityU82026Reduce the risk of concussion from an upright position, reduce load and introduction of tackle programme over the course of a two-year period.
22. No Tackle - Mandated Touch or Tag and half of season with tackle ready programme. Second half of the season to have Play Safe Code and Primary Rugby League Handbook mandated.CommunityU92027Reduce the risk of concussion from an upright position, reduce load and introduction of tackle programme over the course of a two-year period.
23. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Maximum of nine-a-side with a five metre retreat.CommunityU102024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact.
24. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Maximum of 11-a-side with a five metre retreat.CommunityU112024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact.
25. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU12Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
26. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU13Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
27. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU14Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
28. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU15Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
29. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU16Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
30. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU17Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
31. Enforce Safe Play Code as mandatory and more overt. Minimisation of knockout competitions such as Cup competitions.CommunityU18Rolled out from 2024Minimise force when retreating less then 10 metres. Less fatigue to reduce errors in tackle technique. Reduce head-to-head and arm-to-head contact. Increase enjoyment and reduce a win-at-all-costs attitude.
Medical & First Aid Standards
32. Mandating of instrumented mouthgards in contact training and matches.ProfessionalBetfred Super League, Women's Super League and Betfred Challenge Cup2024Ensure head acceleration load is monitored by club medical staff and additional alert for Head Injury Assessment. 
33. Mandating of instrumented mouthgards in contact training and matches.ProfessionalBetfred Championship, Betfred League One, Betfred Challenge Cup and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup2025Ensure head acceleration load is monitored by club medical staff and additional alert for Head Injury Assessment. To be reviewed at the end of the 2024 season. 
34. Mandating of instrumented mouthgards in contact training and matches.ProfessionalAge Grade2024Ensure head acceleration load is monitored by club medical staff and additional alert for Head Injury Assessment. 
35. Mandated stand-down following Category One symptoms via an independent reviewProfessionalAll2024To assist with the identification of Category One and ensure no players play when they should be undertaking GRTP, thus assisting recovery. 
36. Concussion SpottersProfessionalBetfred Super League trial2024 Trial, 2025 in StandardsConcussion spotter trial to take place throughout 2024 season. If the trial shows increased effectiveness for identification of concussive signs and increased removal of players then shall be introduced as standard in 2025.
37. Concussion SpottersProfessionalSenior2026On the above basis, introduce to Betfred Championship, League One and Women's Super League.
38. Independent DoctorsProfessionalAllReview following the 2024 season.CAG recommendation is to allow the Concussion Spotter Trial to be completed to establish if the Spotters are enough or if Independents are required in addition.
39. Concussion Reporting App - Podium AnalyticsCommunityAll2024Free app to allow for cross-sport reporting, schools on concussion and also acts as a point of education and awareness.
40. Head Injury Assessment - 18th & 19th Player Interchange Process ProfessionalAll 2024Consideration for increasing the number of substitutes (not interchanges). Point of activation for Head Injury Assessment interchange (on fail one, rather than fail three). Utilise foul play regulation also. Assists with Player Load Impacts and cultural changes with sharing symptoms.
Coaching & Performance Intervention
41. Development of Rugby League specific tackle curriculum to reduce head contactCommunityAllThree-year project commencing in 2024Development of Rugby League specific tackle curriculum aligning with the new laws - led by international experts on coaching and Rugby, providing additional resource for the RFL. Spiral curriculum to apply at all levels of the game.
42. Load Guidance to be mandated in season throughout trainingProfessionalAll2024Specific to Men and Women.
43. Load Guidance to be mandated in pre-season throughout trainingProfessionalAll2024Specific to Men and Women.
44. Club and player interventions based on Head Injury Assessment dateProfessionalBetfred Super League2024Clubs and players who are identified as causing and receiving a disproportionate amount of Head Injury Assessments in comparison to other clubs or players will be required to submit an action plan demonstrating how risk factors are being considered and mitigated.

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