Varsity Cup adds America's NFL flavour
NEWS: In an effort to make the Varsity Cup 2026 edition more exciting, the tournament has introduced a new post-try scoring option similar to the American National Football League.
The Varsity Cup released an official statement on Friday, confirming the new law innovations, which will allow teams to have the option to either tap or kick a conversion after scoring a try.
The innovation is similar to the NFL, where teams who score a touchdown have the option of a one or two-point conversion, with the one a simple kick and the other a new attacking play.
READ: Defending champion Ikeys to face Tuks in Varsity Cup opener
The official statement explained: “After a try, the scoring team has 20 seconds to choose: kick for a standard 2-point conversion or tap to activate a 120-second tap period to chase an additional 5 points.”
Should a team select the tap, it means that they have an opportunity to add 5 additional points.
“Restart from an attacking mark on the 22m attacking line, in line with where the try was scored. Defence lines up 10m back. Match time continues while the attacking team has 120 seconds to score a ‘Tap Try’ worth 5 points.
“The TAP period ends if the attacking team scores, the attacking team infringes/loses the ball forward (penalty to
defence), or time expires. Play then restarts with a normal kick-off.
“No scrums or line-outs are allowed during the TAP period, and no drop goal may be attempted. Cards can still be issued. Each team has 2 TAP options per half (unused options do not carry over).”
The organisers also noted that a successful tap after a point of origin try totals 12 points.
Meanwhile, if a penalty try is awarded and the team chooses TAP, the try is awarded, but no automatic conversion points apply. The scoring team may then attempt the TAP try for an additional 5 points.
In addition to the latest law, several innovations have been adopted throughout the years.
Conversion Kicks: Must be taken within 60 seconds after a try is scored; if not, the team forfeits the opportunity/points.
Point of Origin Try (POR): Teams can gain additional bonus points upon scoring a try from their own half.
50/22 Law Variation: A team in possession that kicks the ball indirectly into touch from inside their own half receives a free kick 15 meters in from touch.
Red Card Rule: Players receiving a red card leave the field immediately, and the team plays with 14 men for 15 minutes.
Free kick law for the catch from the air: Any catch from any kick from the air (except from a kick for the start or restart of the match) means a free kick for the receiver right away. The receiver/defender doesn’t have to call anything.
The referee will play advantage and have the ability to bring the play back to the point where the catch was made if the advantage has not been used and to award a free kick to the receiver’s team. The receiver however, does have the right to call a free kick like any other free kick in the 22, and to use it as such. Thus, it is exactly the same as a free kick in the 22 just extended to the rest of the field. The mark law for the 22 stays the same. The free-kick is named a FREE CATCH.
White card rule: Any catch from any kick from the air (except from a kick for the start or restart of the match). The White Card will be used in the televised semifinals and Final of the Varsity Cup only.
The coach or captain can, during a stoppage in play, request the referee to review a decision they believe to be incorrect OR request him to review a possible infringement that went undetected and requires an appropriate sanction.
Notification to challenge should be done before the start of the next play. If play commences before a challenge has been requested, then no review can take place.
Each team (whether exercised by Coach or Captain) has 2 CHALLENGES per game.
This is limited to 1 Challenge per half.
If the challenge is upheld/successful, then it remains intact for that half.
If the challenge is unsuccessful, the team will have NO further appeals for that half.
If the challenge is still intact at the end of the first half, it expires and is forfeited as is not transferable to the second half.
Defending the scrumhalf: Law: The “defending 9’s” offside line is limited to the tunnel where the shoulders of the opposing props meet.
Currently, the law allows the “defending 9” to follow but remain behind the ball as it is hooked in a scrum. He must also stay within 1m of the scrum. The “defending 9” may also retire to the hindmost foot of his teammate, where he may then move further than 1m from the scrum. Lastly, he may retire to the backline, 5m away. He may not return to the offside line from which he has retired.
The 2026 Varsity Cup is set to kick off in February.
