Andrew Forrest talks about his new Asia-Pacific rugby tournament, which will kick off in 2019 and have several law variations.
The tournament will include the Force, who were axed from Super Rugby last year, as well as a team from each of Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
The Malaysian team, playing out of Kuala Lumpur, will reportedly have South African backing.
There will be a number of law changes aimed at making the game faster:
– A reduction in playing time of five minutes in each half to 35 minutes
– No direct kicks for touch from inside the 22m area to encourage ball-in-hand counter-attacks
– A power try, scored from a move starting inside a team’s own 22m area, will be worth nine points with no conversion
– Killing the ball for a penalty will not end the power try move
– Penalty goals are reduced from three to two points
– Defence a further 5m back at the scrum
– A team retains possession if the ball is kicked from their own 40m and bounces out in the opposition 22m
– No ‘mark’ call in the 22m area
– 10 rolling substitutions
– Reduced time for kick-offs and penalties
– Red-carded players can be replaced after 15 minutes
– An orange-card system for match review officials
– A bonus-point scoring system will be in place
