Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs, unleashes a kick during the Super Rugby Aotearoa match between the Highlanders and the Chiefs in Dunedin. Photo: Photosport
A law change to try and stop territorial kicking duels and create more running rugby is being introduced to Super Rugby Pacific this season.
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy said the change is in repsonse to feedback from fans, coaches and players.
"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," said Malloy.
Rugby's current offside laws state players in front of the kicker can be put onside as soon as the kick receiver has either passed the ball or run five metres with the ball.
For Super Rugby defenders will remain offside until they have been put onside by a teammate who has come from behind the kicker, or the kicker themself.
The law change has been sanctioned by World Rugby as a trial.
Kevin Malloy Super Rugby Pacific chair Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
"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 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."
Malloy believes other law changes over the past couple of years had led to a decrease in dead time, cleaner clearance from scrums, quicker restarts from set-piece and after tries and less TMO interventions making the game more attractive.