Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021

There were a couple of new rules introduced for the 2021 season.

A captain’s referral will see each captain given one opportunity per match to ask the referee to have the Television Match Official (TMO) check for an infringement in the lead up to a try, or to review foul play.

• Captains will have 10 seconds to make their referral after a try has been awarded.
• The TMO will be able to go back to the last stoppage in play, regardless of how many phases have been played.
• Foul play referrals can be made after any stoppage in play if the captain believes foul play has been missed by the match officials.
• Captain’s must reference ‘specific’ incidents or infringements.
• Footage must be ‘clear and obvious’ for a referral to be upheld.
• The scrum and lineout are not included in the referral process.
• If the referring captain is correct, they will retain their referral, but if the referee’s original decision stands, or the TMO footage is not ‘clear and obvious’, the captain loses their referral.

A goal line drop-out will occur when an attacking player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal or knocks the ball on in the in-goal area, or when an attacking kick, other than a penalty or drop goal attempt, is grounded by the defending team in their in-goal area.

The new rules from 2020 relating to golden point and red card replacements will remain in place.