New Zealand
NPC to trial six-point tries, breakdown changes
AAP
December 23, 2015
© Martin Hunter/Getty Images

New Zealand's provincial rugby championship will trial a series of new rules next year including six-point tries.

Penalties in the NPC, the renamed Mitre 10 Cup, will also be reduced from three points to two in the changes announced on Wednesday by New Zealand Rugby operations manager Neil Sorenson.

The changes are part of a World Rugby project to make the sport more appealing, having already been trialled in domestic competitions in Australia, South Africa and Wales.

Breakdown laws will be tweaked, encouraging defensive teams to drive over the ball to secure possession, rather than poached by a turnover specialist such as Wallabies flanker David Pocock or retired All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

That change is to avoid the heavy blows received by such players in the head and neck area.

Next year's Pacific Challenge Cup, featuring a number of national `A' teams from the Pacific region and North America, will also feature the law changes.

Reports say the NPC will also feature two referees although that is yet to be confirmed by New Zealand Rugby.

© AAP

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