Impact of New Rule Changes on Australian Professional Rugby League Match-Play and Wellbeing Statistics-Implications for Training-Program Design

Objective: This study investigates the impact of the ‘six-again’ and ‘immediate change of possession’ rule changes; implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown, on player activity profiles, team performance statistics, and player well-being in the National Rugby League (NRL). These rule changes aimed to accelerate game pace and reduce physical contact, potentially altering game dynamics and player performance.

Materials and Methods: Using a mixed methods approach, data from 571 NRL matches over three seasons were analyzed. This included team performance metrics such as play-the-balls, run meters, post contact meters, tackles, tries, and tackle breaks. Additionally, self-reported wellness scores from 60 male players were assessed.

Results: The introduction of the six-again rule showed a significant positive association (p<0.05) with player well-being, with an average increase of 0.86 wellness score points. Teams experienced on average 6.2 (95% CI: 4.4 to 8.1) more play-the-balls per match, leading to increased run meters, post contact meters, and tackles per team. There was a notable increase in tries scored but a decrease in tackle breaks per team.

Conclusion: This research underscores the effectiveness of the six-again rule in enhancing game speed, spectacle, and potentially improving player well-being in the NRL. The findings fill a critical gap in sports science literature, offering a comprehensive analysis of how these rule changes have impacted the league.