Rugby-Australia's NRL introduces two-point drop goals to speed up game

Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) will introduce two-point drop goals for shots outside of 40 metres as part of sweeping rule changes aimed at speeding up play. Drop goals, also known as field goals in the NRL, are worth only one point so are the least-preferred method of scoring. NRL boss Peter V'landys said he hoped the two-point rule would accelerate play.

Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) will introduce two-point drop goals for shots outside of 40 metres as part of sweeping rule changes aimed at speeding up play. Drop goals, also known as field goals in the NRL, are worth only one point so are the least-preferred method of scoring.

NRL boss Peter V'landys said he hoped the two-point rule would accelerate play. "The message from the fans and our broadcasters has been clear; the game became too predictable and the balance between attack and defence had gone too far in favour of defence," he said in a media release on Friday.

The NRL will also introduce the "six again" rule for ruck infringements, which gives the attacking team a set of six new tackles if the defending team strays offside. Scrums will also be more strictly policed by referees, while teams will be able to play the ball from the restart if it is kicked or carried into touch rather than have to pack scrums among other rule changes https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/12/11/nrl-announces-rule-changes-to-make-game-more-entertaining.