Super Rugby Pacific to trial law combatting ‘Dupont’s law’ and ‘kick-tennis’ :

The 2024 Super Rugby Pacific will trial laws designed to discourage territorial kicking battles and promote more running in the game whilst also modifying the laws around how players are played onside in these situations.

The tournament is no stranger to innovation, with several laws, including the 20-minute red card, being trialled in Super Rugby Pacific over the last few years.

Running rugby

Chair of the competition Kevin Malloy believes the innovation this time around has come from listening to rugby’s stakeholders and giving them what they are looking for – more running rugby.

“We want to create a game that’s exciting for our fans and enjoyable for our players. Part of that is seeing our players running the ball rather than trading multiple kicks in a battle for territory. We’re listening to our fans and with the full support of New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia, and our coaches we’ve responded with a small change we think could make a big difference.”

The innovation comes after frustrations around territorial battles between the 22-metre lines where players would kick the ball back and forth until a mistake was made or there is a tangible opportunity to gain ground by kicking the ball out.

From the back-and-forth kicking a loophole was found and often exploited by star Frenchman Antoine Dupont which saw the glitch in the laws being dubbed ‘Dupont’s law’. As stated under Law 10.7, players in front of the kicker can be put onside when the kick receiver has either passed the ball or run five metres.

Fantastic explanation from @bernardjackman on ‘Dupont Law’ #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/qpVGKWHSIn

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) February 6, 2024

However, the changes made by Super Rugby Pacific directly prevent that, with players in front of the kicker only able to be played onside by the kicker or a chasing teammate that started behind the kicker himself.

“Fans have been vocal in recent times about teams exploiting a loophole that’s seen large number of players standing still while kicks go over their heads in what some people have called kick tennis. We don’t believe that’s the spectacle our fans want to see in Super Rugby Pacific. We want to open up the opportunity for teams to counterattack with the ball in hand and we’re confident this tweak to the law will encourage that trend and encourage exciting, attacking rugby.”

The innovators

Mallow also praised the innovations that have come through Super Rugby Pacific over the last couple of years and underlined how important it is to give the fans what they are looking for.

“We were really happy with the spectacle last year and hence we have only made one tweak to the laws for 2024. We want to keep building an exciting, fast moving brand of rugby that our fans want to watch.”

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