Rugby league nines

Rugby league nines (or simply nines) is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be completed in a day or over a single weekend. It has become more popular than the similar rugby league sevens (rugby league with seven players to a side), with many tournaments using nines to distinguish it from rugby union sevens.

Laws

The laws of the game are the same as standard rugby league laws with the following exceptions.

• Each team is allowed a squad of up to fifteen players, with no more than nine players on the field at any time. Unlimited substitutions are allowed from a named bench of four players.
• The match lasts for 15 minutes, divided into two halves of 7 minutes 30 seconds. There is no half time interval but teams are allowed a maximum of 1 minute to change ends. Each half starts with a place kick.
• Scrums consist of no more than 5 forwards, with a maximum 3 in the front row and 2 in the second row. When the ball is in the scrum no more than 4 players from each team shall act as backs. The ball must emerge from behind the feet of the second row.
• Conversions after a successful try take the form of drop kicks. Players from the team that has conceded the score do not have to retire behind the try line but must not interfere with any conversion attempt.
• When points have been scored the team against which points have been scored will restart the game with a tap restart from the centre of the half-way line.
• When a team is awarded a penalty then play must proceed by way of a tap 10-metres in advance of where the infringement took place.
• In the event of misconduct by a player the referee can suspend for 5 minutes. In the Carnegie Floodlit Nines, a major nines competition, this has been reduced to 2 minutes.^[1]

Buderus blueprint

Danny Buderus, an Australian rugby league player (currently playing for NRL team Newcastle Knights) has prepared a blueprint for a new rugby league nines format, with the intention of taking rugby league to a more global market,

• Each team would consist of nine on-field players plus five interchange players.
• Games would be played in two 20 minute halves.
• Scrums would be replaced by turnovers.
• Teams would be allowed an unlimited number of interchanges.
• A team would surrender possession if the dummy-half is tackled.

NRL Auckland Nines

The major rule changes that differ from regular National Rugby League games are as follows:

• Two nine-minute halves with a two-minute half time period.
• Nine players a side with six unlimited interchange players.
• Scrums will only form after a double knock on, with attacking teams to elect which side to feed the ball.
• No video referee, with one on-field referee.
• Five minute golden try period in qualifying rounds with a draw to be deemed if there is no result, while unlimited golden try for the finals.
• A tap restart will take place after a 40/20.
• Five points for a try scored in the bonus zone under the posts, with two point drop kick conversion attempts.
• The scoring team will have a dropkick off to restart play.
• Five minute sin bins.
• Five tackles in a set.

Major nines festivals

Pacific

• Rugby league at the Pacific Games

Australia

• Cabramatta International Nines

New Zealand

• NRL Auckland Nines

England

• Carnegie Floodlit Nines
• Northern Rail Nines
• York International 9s
• Middlesex 9s
• Bristol 9s
• Rochdale International Rugby League Nines
• South West 9s (Current Champions Exeter University Rugby League Team; EURL)
• Cheltenham Rugby Festival
• Scarborough Rugby League Festival
• Scunthorpe 9s
• Midlands 9s
• Southern Nines
• Warwick University Rugby League 9s

Philippines

• Zambales International Rugby League 9s

United States

• USA Rugby League 9s

Ireland

• Kilkenny 9s
• Portadown 9s

Wales

• North Wales Nines
• Scott McRorie Nines

Continental Europe

• Heidelberg 9s
• Lezignan 9s
• Malta Rugby League Nines
• NNRLB 9s
• Scandinavian 9s
• Veneto 9s

Historic

• Super League World Nines

See also

• Rugby league sevens

References

External links