Jamie Parsons

After a couple of shake-ups in the last two years, with the inclusion of Deniliquin taking the competition to 7 teams and then the return of Narrandera to Group 20 late last year taking it back to 6 teams, the Proten Cup will go through it’s biggest change yet with the men’s competition confirmed to be playing under full international rules for the 2026 season, rather than the safeplay code rules it has played under since its inception in 2018.

The rules will now be the same rules rugby league is played under in Group 20 and the rest of country rugby league in New South Wales.

The major changes will be the defensive line going back to 10 metres instead of 5 metres, two markers instead of one and the removal of the two players in the tackle rule.

The other rules include the rollback of dangerous contact, with the safeplay code banning any lifting at all, tackles above the armpits, ankle taps and aggressive palms.

Though with the international rules also clamping down on dangerous contact, these rules won’t be too big of a change.

After confirmation that NSWRL would charge all clubs full registration this season, up to $162 from the $80 that teams have paid over the last seven seasons, it was voted on by the clubs whether or not to return to international rules, with the vote ending 5-1 in favour of changing the rules.

With these rules the Proten Cup men’s teams will be able to play as many games as they want, previously limited to 10 games per season under safeplay.

Teams will now have the ability to organise more trial games, or the competition could expand in future seasons. In 2026 the competition will remain at six rounds plus finals.

As of now, the women’s competition will remain under the safeplay code and nines rules.