Super Rugby Pacific will adopt World Rugby's law trials for its inaugural season, while officials have also been given dispensation to also use the controversial 20-minute red card replacement law that has been a feature of southern hemisphere tournaments over the past two years.
New Zealand Rugby [NZR] and Rugby Australia [RA] on Wednesday confirmed the law variations that would be in play for the fledgling tournament, with the 50/22 kick rule and goal-line dropouts the two variations being trialled globally since August last year. Golden point extra time will also be played for matches that are level at fulltime.
"The Global Law trials carried through into the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition have proven to be very effective since being suggested by Scott Johnson 30 months ago and trialled in our Super Rugby AU competitions," Ben Whitaker, Rugby Australia General Manager of Professional Rugby Services, said.
"Whilst the red card and golden point law variations ensure the fans are treated to competitive, exciting matches under all circumstances. These competition variations will ensure players and teams can showcase the Rugby power of the Pacific to fans around the region and world."
It is the use of the 20-minute red card replacement law that will continue to divide supporters across the globe. While the law has been in use in the various Super Rugby competitions staged amid the pandemic, so too last year's Rugby Championship, it was not adopted as a global trial by World Rugby last year.
Division over the law appears to be split between the two hemispheres, with southern officials, particularly those in Australia and New Zealand, insisting on the need for matches not to be spoiled by red cards, for which there continue to be inconsistent interpretations the world over.
But given they are partners in Super Rugby Pacific, NZR and RA have pushed for the red-card replacement to be included in the tournament and World Rugby has granted their wish.
Statistics uncovered by ESPN last year reflected the impact of the red-card replacement law in Super Rugby AU, with the affected matches not developing into one-sided affairs, which audiences tend to turn off from, under the trial.
The contrast of having, and not having the trial, in place, were then reflected during the Test season during the Wallabies' clashes with France and New Zealand.
There is a feeling in Australia and New Zealand that contests needn't be spoiled by debatable incidents of foul play and that the red-card replacement trial allows officials to still hand down a heavy sanction, but also then deal with the incident in greater focus through the judiciary process.
Sent off following a high tackle against the French in Brisbane, Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete was later cleared of the offence and suffered no further sanction. Australia rallied despite playing a man down for 75 minutes, winning the third Test in dramatic fashion at Suncorp Stadium.
All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett was then sent off for a stray boot to the head of Koroibete in Perth in Bledisloe III, but with the trial in place for the Rugby Championship he was able to be replaced after 20 minutes. Barrett, too, was later spared further sanction.
While the Wallabies were able to rally to defeat the French in Brisbane, Dave Rennie's side would have certainly benefited from being able to replace Koroibete after 20 minutes, rather than play a man down for 74 minutes, for a decision that was later found to be incorrect.
The next cycle for global law trials, for which the 50/22 and goal-line dropout are both currently apart of, will not take place until after Rugby World Cup 2023.
It is understood that World Rugby hasn't completely given up on the idea of a global red-card replacement trial, with sources telling ESPN the fact that the governing body continues to support its use in Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship means it is open to the idea in the future.
Meanwhile, the captain's challenge, used in Super Rugby Aotearoa, has not been included in the new Pacific competition.