Proten Cup Leveling Up: Men’s Competition Switches to Full International Rules

By Jamie Parsons

In Short:

Full Contact Rules: The Proten Cup men’s competition moves from Safeplay to full international rules for 2026, aligning with Group 20 standards.

Club Backing: Local clubs voted 5-1 for the change following an increase in NSWRL registration fees to $162.

Scheduling Flexibility: The change removes the 10-game limit, allowing for more trials and potential future expansion of the six-round season.

The Proten Cup is set for its most significant transformation since its 2018 inception, as the men’s competition officially moves to full international rules for the 2026 season. After years of operating under the "Safeplay Code"—designed to limit high-impact contact—the league will now align with Group 20 and broader NSW Country Rugby League standards.

The decision follows a period of transition for the competition, which recently saw Deniliquin join to briefly create a seven-team field before Narrandera’s return to Group 20 late last year restored the league to six teams.

Breaking Down the Rule Changes

The shift brings the Proten Cup in line with the standard game played across the state. Key changes for the 2026 men's season include:

• Defensive Line: The defensive line will move back to 10 metres, doubling the previous 5-metre requirement.
• Markers: Teams will now utilize two markers instead of one.
• Tackling: The "two players in a tackle" restriction has been removed.
• Contact Guidelines: While the Safeplay Code strictly banned any lifting, ankle taps, and aggressive palms, international rules allow for more traditional contact while maintaining modern safety standards to prevent dangerous play.

Registration Fees and Club Voting

The move was largely driven by a change in NSWRL registration costs. After seven seasons of paying $80, clubs were notified of a full registration charge of up to $162 for 2026. Faced with these increased costs, clubs voted 5-1 in favor of adopting international rules to maximize the value of their registrations.

Impact on the Region

For the local government areas of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling, this rule change offers clubs more freedom than ever before. Under the previous Safeplay regulations, teams were restricted to a maximum of 10 games per season.

• Under the new 2026 format:
• Unlimited Games: Teams can now schedule as many trial games as they wish.
• Future Expansion: The shift removes previous barriers to competition growth, though the 2026 season is confirmed to remain at six rounds plus finals.
• Women’s Competition: Notably, the women’s competition will not transition at this time, remaining under the existing Safeplay code and nine’s rules.