The RFL has confirmed four rule changes to rugby league in 2025, with a captain's challenge introduced and a big amendment coming to the green card process. The card will now apply to attacking players as well as defending players, in a bid to rid the sport of the playacting that started to creep into Super League last season.

Now if the referee calls time off, the injured player, whether attacking or defending, will be required to leave the field for a 'concussion assessment,' 'be interchanged, leave the field of play, and return immediately once an interchange card is handed over,' or 'leave the field for two minutes of elapsed playing time before being allowed to re-enter the field.'

This law amendment is hoped to be a positive step to stop players staying down after contacts, with the video referee then intervening and handing cards and/or penalties out, something that was a frustrating occurence last season.

READ MORE: IMG grading amendments in full as rugby league clubs learn latest tweaks

READ MORE: Decision made on Super League promotion and relegation return as clubs vote

Elsewhere, there will now be contested dropouts, with teams not penalised under the sticks if the ball doesn't go ten metres or sails out on the full. There is also a tweak to offside kick chasers, with players only deemed offside if they affect the outcome of the play.

Finally, and as revealed by Rugby League Live earlier this week, the captains challenge will now be introduced into Super League. The challenge will be in place at all televised games with a video referee, with one unsuccessful challenge allowed per game. This is akin to the NRL, where a team retains their challenge should it be successful. The ruling is only permissible in 'instances where the referee blows the whistle to stop play.'

A full breakdown of the four rule changes can be found here.

Green Card

• Should the referee call time off either themselves or at the request of either a physio, doctor, or head trainer to allow a player to receive attention, then the protocols set out in the timekeeping protocols will be followed, and the player will either leave the field for a concussion assessment, be interchanged, leave the field of play and return immediately once an interchange card is handed over, or leave the field for two minutes of elapsed playing time before being allowed to re-enter the field.

• Now applies to attacking players as well as defending players.

• Should the referee call time off either themselves or at the request of either a physio, doctor, or head trainer for an injury that results from a penalty for foul play, the injured player will not be subject to the green card policy as outlined.

Captain’s Challenge

• This will be introduced at all televised fixtures with a video referee in 2025, allowing the captain of either team—or a nominated stand-in if the captain is off the field—to refer a specific range of decisions to the video referee.

• Each team will be entitled to one unsuccessful challenge per match.

• Time Limit: A captain has until the referee is ready to recommence play, upon which the challenge time frame will lapse; the referee will not unduly delay the restart of play; there will be 10 seconds from the referee communicating the decision (by signal and verbally).

• The challenge is only permissible in instances where the referee blows the whistle to stop play (except for stoppages for injury or suspected injury).

• Decisions that cannot be challenged are: forward pass; roll ball; discretionary penalties (10m/marker offside, ruck infringements relating to the speed of the play the ball, tackled into touch or in-goal after the held call); the mark of a penalty; time wasting; dissent; deliberate forward pass; scrum penalties.

Contested Dropouts

• If a team kicks a drop out on the full over the touchline or kicks a drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball 10 metres out from the centre of the goal line rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 10 metre line.

• If a team takes a 20 metre drop out and it travels on the full over the touchline or kicks a 20-meter drop out so that it fails to travel at least 10 metres forward in the field of play, play will restart with a play the ball from the centre of the 20 metre line, rather than a penalty kick from the centre of the 20 metre line.

• Note: Kicks must be capable of being contested in the opinion of the referee

Offside Kick Chasers

• Referees and video referees will now differentiate between active and passive players when awarding penalties for offside.

• An active player will be defined as one who takes part in and/or influences the course of the game.

• A passive player will be defined as one who does not influence the course of the game.

Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel