Kick off after a score

[jamescolin]

Just been watching an old game between Paris and Sheffield. Might have not seen it right but it appeared that the team that had scored was kicking off after they had scored.. Was that a rule in the 90's? Don't remember it but then my memory isn't what it was.

[Chris Taylor]

28 minutes ago, jamescolin said:

Just been watching an old game between Paris and Sheffield. Might have not seen it right but it appeared that the team that had scored was kicking off after they had scored.. Was that a rule in the 90's? Don't remember it but then my memory isn't what it was.

Yes, it changed in the off season between 1998 and 1999 (I believe)

[The Phantom Horseman]

It was introduced partly as a way of making the game more attractive for overseas markets such as the US and Asia. In the NFL, for instance, the team that has just scored always kicks off.

From memory, there had been a lot of games in the previous couple of years where one team (notably Wigan) got on top of the other and kept dominating possession as the game went on.

Can't remember how long the new kick off rule lasted but think it was only one or two seasons.

[tms]

 in the laws of rugby league rule changed in 96  in england and 97 in aus and nz but no mention when it changed back

At the restart after a try had been scored and the conversion attempt had been taken, the side that scored now kicked off to the other team.[46] This change aimed to make contests more even by almost guaranteeing possession for the side that had conceded points.[46] Greg McCallum, the director of referees' coaching, also noted that this convention was "in line with most other sports" and "that is significant when we come to promoting the game in America and Asia".[46] One intention of this change was to "narrow the gap between good and bad teams".[47]

[jamescolin]

Thanks for the replies.