New Zealand and Australia have agreed to retain replacements for red-carded players and goal-line drop-outs in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition after trialling the rule innovations in domestic seasons.
Goal-line drop-outs, replace the conventional 22 metre drop-out after an attacking player is held up or the ball is knocked on in the in-goal area.
The goal-line drop-outs, also awarded when an attacking kick is grounded by the defending team in their in-goal area, are intended to speed the game up by encouraging teams to counter-attack.
Photo: Photosport
Red-carded players will also be able to be replaced after 20 minutes, retaining the rule change introduced in New Zealand's Super Rugby Aotearoa last year.
However, the competition will not use the "golden point" system during the round robin stage of the season if matches are drawn after 80 minutes.
The golden point system, which awarded victory for the first team to score points in a 10-minute period of extra time, will only be employed for the June 19th final.
Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicks off on Friday with the Highlanders hosting Super Rugby AU champion Queensland Reds in Dunedin.
Also on Friday night the New South Wales Waratahs play the Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
-Reuters