One rule for all

Rugby league has more rule changes coming, but different competitions are still governed by different sets of Laws; Forty20 Magazine is published on the Friday closest to the 13th of each month

Forty 20

February 13, 2026

506

Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com - 01/11/2025 - ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes - England vs Australia - Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England - Reece Walsh of Australia sin binned by referee Grant Atkins

IT’S one of the most anomalous issues in the sport.

Interim RFL CEO Abi Ekoku reinforced at his recent press briefing that surely it can’t be too difficult, if the hemisphere governing bodies are looking to work closer together, to have one set of rules for all comps.

Then, somewhat cryptically, Canterbury director of football Phil Gould, one of the most influential voices in the sport, posted on his social media, “Word on the street suggests, we have plenty of rule changes heading out way…Funny game rugby league.”

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph subsequently revealed that it had seen a memo proposing four key changes that are being considered by the NRL for the 2026 season.

While kick-offs are expected to remain, it’s understood the team conceding a try will be given the right to decide whether to kick-off or receive the football in the following set.
Teams are set to be increased from 17 with an 18th man to 19. This will be done with interchanges to remain at eight. Teams will have greater flexibility to determine their match day squads and will be less reliant on injuries not causing havoc or ruining games.
Seven-tackle sets were initially brought in to penalise teams for kicking the ball dead, however, knock ons in the in goal have wound up having the same result. This will be removed, with players knocking on over the goal line in the act of scoring no longer giving away a tackle zero.
The six again rule is set to be expanded to allow teams to receive the go ahead set restart rather than a penalty when an offence is committed outside their own 20-metre zone. Previously, this was the 40-metre line.
The kick off variation will be trialled later in the season in matches that don’t affect the play offs when conceding teams get the choice of whether to restart or receive.

Meanwhile, the International Rugby League board has approved amendments to the international Laws of the game following recommendations by their Laws Advisory Group to encourage, “fluidity of play, provide clarity to players and match officials and improve player safety.”

The following Laws have been implemented from January 1, 2026:

Locking the ball into the scrum – it is an offence to deliberately lock the ball in a scrum. This will result in a full penalty being awarded against the offending team
Packing the scrum – the loose forward of each team is required to pack behind their second-row forwards by placing their head in the space between them and wrapping their arms around the second-row forwards
Grounding the ball – dropping on the ball and covering it with the front part of the body above the waist and below the neck, the ball itself being on the ground (clarifies that a try cannot be scored with the back)
Active and passive offside – players shall not encroach within 10m of an opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall immediately retire from any opponent who first secures the ball. Offside players who are within 10m must not ply an active part in or impact any subsequent play (ie: remain passive) up the next play-the-ball or stoppage, unless they place themselves back onside by retiring behind the point of the kick (allows fluidity of play and reduces unnecessary penalties for technical infringements)
Player safety – when attempting to tackle a kicker, defenders must make a genuine attempt which is not late, high or dangerous contact with the kicking player whilst they are in a vulnerable position
Playing the ball (1) – the tackled player shall without delay regain their feet where they are tackled, lift the ball clear of the ground, face their opponent’s goal line and place the ball on the ground in front of their foremost foot (clarifies that dropping the ball onto the ground constitutes a knock on).
Playing the ball (2) – the tackled player must make a genuine attempt to play the ball backwards with the foot. The ball must not be kicked or heeled by the player marking them. The ball is in play when it has been played backwards (provides clarity for referees)
Rugby union-style mauls – it is not permissible for a player to lend weight to a teammate in possession to gain momentum. Immediately this happens the referee should call “Held”. Momentum already generated would be taken into account.
Blocking – where opponents do not make a tackle effective in the quickest possible manner but attempt to push, pull or carry the player in possession, it is permissible for colleagues of the tackled player to lend their weight in order to avoid losing ground. Immediately this happens the Referee should call “Held”. (It is not permissible for an attacking player to impede any defender from making a tackle).

The IRL LAC is chaired by Graham Annesley (ARLC) and comprises of Michael Maguire (APRL), Ruan Sims (ARLC), Laurent Frayssinous (ERL), Phil Bentham (RFL) and Danny Kazandjian (IRL).

The international Laws are for all levels of the game. Further competition-specific rules relating only to the IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 will be announced in due course.

In addition, the board also approved a new Playing Condition for Women’s Senior International Matches for 10 interchanges following a recommendation from their Women’s & Girls Advisory Group.