I could be wrong but I believe the nipple rule will be tested during the ‘trophy’ tournament which is essentially the second division competition and not the main comp starting next week
Looks like you’re right. Not sure that changes my point but doesn’t affect us, obviously.
The other changes do, and just looking st them again they have their own problems:
“UPRIGHT (NOT BENT AT THE WAIST)
A tackler will be deemed to be upright when:
They are in an approximate upright standing position
They have made no clear attempt to lower the height of contact with the ball carrier to avoid the head or shoulders of the ball carrier
There is no knee flexion and minimal bending at the waist which brings the head into a dangerous position for collision with ball carrier's head or shoulder
The high tackle warning will be issued in one of four types of incidents:
All HIGH-CONTACT PENALTIES, irrespective of sanction, during matches
All TACKLES THAT RESULT IN AN HIA, irrespective of whether to tackler or ball-carrier
High tackles that are missed during the match
Accidental clear and obvious head to head and head to shoulder contact
Sanctions:
The High Tackle Warning is issued ONLY IF THE TACKLER IS UPRIGHT, AND THERE IS CLEAR AND OBVIOUS HEAD CONTACT for either player
Each High Tackle Warning carries 'one strike'.When 'two strikes' (two High Tackle Warnings) have been issued, a player will receive a one-match suspension (a right to appeal will operate)
High Tackle Warnings also form part of the usual accumulation of sanctions, including Citing Commissioner Warnings (CCWs) and yellow cards. A strong education element will be run in parallel, explaining that this player welfare initiative protects the tackler and their opponents.”
A player attempting a ball and all on his own line - to protect against an offload - is at real risk of breaching the law.