Encyclopedia of Sport: Every sport from around the world
Topend Sports Logo

Rugby League Nines

Rugby League Nines is a variation of Rugby league football but as the name suggests, it has nine players in each team instead of the 13 in the traditional rugby league game (there is also a Rugby League Sevens variant). The match duration is 15 minutes with two halves of 7 minutes 30 seconds. As the game duration is short, it is commonly played in festivals. The game is popular in Australia, New Zealand and England. Only nine players from each team are allowed in the field at any time.



The game allows unlimited substitutions. Scrums comprise of 3 forwards in the front row and 2 forwards in the second row making a total of five forwards. After a point has been scored by a team, the opposing team restarts the game. If there is any misconduct, the referee suspends the game for two minutes.

There has been a recent addition of Powerplay to the game. The team may go for a Powerplay after scoring a try. Try is worth four points and so is the Powerplay. This game has no half time interval. The teams get one minute so that they can change ends.

rugby league game kids playing rugby league

Rugby League Nines is also sometimes called Nines, Footy, Football or League. Rugby League International Federation governs Rugby League Nines.

The inaugural Rugby League World Cup 9s was held in 2019, and is scheduled to be held every four years.

Rules in place for the 2019 World Cup 9s



Similar Sports

Related Pages

send us a comment Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.

Sport Extra

Check out the 800+ sports in the Encyclopedia of Every Sport. Well not every sport, as there is a list of unusual sports, extinct sports and newly created sports. How to get on these lists? See What is a sport? We also have sports winners lists, and about major sports events and a summary of every year.

 → How to Cite