Nines
| Governed by | Rugby League International Federation |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Nines, Football, Footy, League, Rugby |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Full |
| Team members | 15 (9 on field + 6 interchange) |
| Mixed gender | Single |
| Categorisation | Outdoor |
| Equipment | Football |
| Venue | Rugby league playing field |
Nines (9s), also referred to as rugby league nines and rugby nines, is a 9-a-side derivative of rugby league football. Nines uses rugby league's International Laws of the Game with several modifications.
Nines is usually used in festivals, as it allows for a tournament to be completed in a day or over a single weekend.
Contents |
[edit] Mode of play
It has been argued that nines is a superior variant of the game to sevens. Danny Buderus stated, "I think the biggest problem with sevens is once a player beats someone it's likely he'll score. It should be a bit harder and I think the extra two players would do that".[1]
[edit] Laws
The laws of the game are the same as standard rugby league laws with some exceptions. Exceptions can vary between competitions.
- 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.[2]
[edit] Development
In 2011, a proposal by Danny Buderus, known as the Buderus blueprint, was revealed.[1] Buderus stated his opinion that nines was the best way for rugby league to enter new markets around the world.[1] He envisioned that the 13-a-side code could be promoted through this.[1] Buderus believed an advantage of nines was that it would be a "good leveller" between national sides, stating, "The time is a big factor, we've seen a lot of Test countries play on emotion for the first 20 minutes but then [the differences in] fitness, ability and skills take their toll".[1]
[edit] Major nines festivals
[edit] England
- Carnegie Floodlit Nines
- Northern Rail Nines
- York International 9s
- Middlesex 9s
- Bristol 9s
- South West 9s
- Cheltenham Rugby Festival
- Scarborough Rugby League Festival
- Scunthorpe 9s
- Midlands 9s
- Southern Nines
- Warwick University Rugby League 9s
[edit] The rest of Europe
[edit] See also
- Rugby league gameplay
- Sevens, a 7-a-side version of the game
- Touch football, a low contact version of the game
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lane, Daniel (2011-01-02). "Bedsy's revolution No.9". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. http://www.webcitation.org/5zUB6N3Ld. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ↑ Super League (2009-08-04). "Officials look forward to Carnegie Floodlit 9s". Super League. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. http://www.webcitation.org/5vWSC8PRE. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
