Rugby league nines (or simply nines) is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be completed in a day or over a single weekend. It has become more popular than the similar rugby league sevens (rugby league with seven players to a side), with many tournaments using nines to distinguish it from rugby union sevens.
The laws of the game are the same as standard rugby league laws with the following exceptions.
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.
Danny Buderus, an Australian rugby league player (currently playing for NRL team Newcastle Knights) has prepared a blueprint for a new rugby league nines format, with the intention of taking rugby league to a more global market,
Each team would consist of nine on-field players plus five interchange players.
Games would be played in two 20 minute halves.
Scrums would be replaced by turnovers.
Teams would be allowed an unlimited number of interchanges.
A team would surrender possession if the dummy-half is tackled.
NRL Auckland Nines
The major rule changes that differ from regular National Rugby League games are as follows:
Two nine-minute halves with a two-minute half time period.
Nine players a side with six unlimited interchange players.
Scrums will only form after a double knock on, with attacking teams to elect which side to feed the ball.
No video referee, with one on-field referee.
Five minute golden try period in qualifying rounds with a draw to be deemed if there is no result, while unlimited golden try for the finals.
A tap restart will take place after a 40/20.
Five points for a try scored in the bonus zone under the posts, with two point drop kick conversion attempts.
The scoring team will have a dropkick off to restart play.
Three minute sin bins.
Five tackles in a set.
Rugby league at the Pacific Games
Cabramatta International Nines
Tarsha Gale Nines
New Zealand
NRL Auckland Nines
England
Carnegie Floodlit Nines
Northern Rail Nines
York International 9s
Middlesex 9s
Bristol 9s
Rochdale International Rugby League Nines
South West 9s (Current Champions Exeter University Rugby League Team; EURL)
Cheltenham Rugby Festival
Scarborough Rugby League Festival
Scunthorpe 9s
Midlands 9s
Southern Nines [1]
Warwick University Rugby League 9s
Zambales International Rugby League 9s
USA Rugby League 9s
Ireland
Kilkenny 9s
Portadown 9s
North Wales Nines
Scott McRorie Nines
Heidelberg 9s
Lezignan 9s
Malta Rugby League Nines
NNRLB 9s
Scandinavian 9s
Veneto 9s
Super League World Nines
