Are there any rule changes that apply for next week?
Apologies if this has been raised/covered elsewhere.

Only one i've seen is the International rules matching the NRL by switching from 12 to 10 interchanges!

Isn't the NRL going from 10 to 8 though.

SL is staying as it is isn't it for subs?

:2gyczxie

Sorry, yes SL is staying at 10 according to this:

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The International game is reducing from 12 to 10 to get in line with the SL and NRL. But at the same time NRL is reducing from 10 to 8.

It'll be interesting to see how the NRL goes with moving to 8 subs.

The days of the behemoth 15 minute front rower could be numbered.

Perhaps a return of the 80 minute hooker too?

Do many sides in the NRL run with a specialist bench hooker these days anyway?

Be interesting to see how many minutes coaches can get out of the likes of Mose Masoe and Georgie Rose.

I was thinking of Master when I posted.

Could we see a return of more lightweight forwards?

Someone like Wayne Pearce who was quite small by today's standards?

Pearce was an absolute fitness freak though, compared to his contemporaries. These days he'd be as fit as everyone else, but smaller.

I'd hate to see RL move away from being a game for all to being one which suits a particular homogenised body shape. One of the things about Union is that no matter what shape or size you are there's going to be a role on the pitch which fits your physical attributes. League needs to be careful it doesn't lose that in the rush for outside backs built like back rowers and props who can run all day.

I agree with that. I think what they're trying to do though is reduce the impacts in tackles a bit. If everyone is a bit more tired then you'd think the impacts shouldn't be as fierce.

I think you'll still get variances in player fitness. Some will always shine through as being better prepared or have a natural disposition to being able to endure more. A lot might also come down to mental strength too.

A reduction in subs will reward those attributes.