Referee Stuart Dickinson talks with the Reds' James Horwill and Scott Higginbotham to clarify a point during last year's Super 14 © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Super 14

Teams: Blues | Chiefs | New Zealand

Referees and assistant referees have been instructed to focus on freeing up the ball and creating clarity around rulings at the tackle area and at scrum time in an effort to make this year's Super 14 spectator friendly.

Additionally, players advancing from off-side positions during kicking phases will also be penalised to maintain the counter-attacking options for the receiving team. Tournament officials in all three countries have been given a clear mandate to deal with these key areas in an effort to create clarity for players, officials and fans, and to enable the kind of rugby that Super Rugby fans have come to expect.

"There is total agreement between all three Sanzar countries that Super 14 rugby needs to return to its roots and deliver excitement and attack on the field and we believe these initiatives can help deliver a better game for everyone," SANZAR Referees Manager Lyndon Bray said.

Bray said the 2009 season review process brought out four major priorities, which coaches, players and referees have bought into, in order to help create some fundamental change to the game on the field. "In the past two months, I have attended workshops in all three Sanzar countries with coaches and officials and everyone has responded positively to this approach."

These initiatives were a return to the laws of the game and didi not represent any change in law, Bray said. "We are simply limiting room for interpretation and (this) should create clarity and certainty for coaches, players, officials and fans."

Referee performances will also be measured against these priorities throughout the Super 14 season which will guide the selectors in the appointment of officials as the tournament progressed.