As Moana Pasifika get set to meet the Fijian Drua in the opening weekend of Super Rugby 2026, former All Black Mils Muliaina believes the competition’s new law changes could reward teams built on speed and instinct.
With the new season kicking off this weekend, Super Rugby has introduced five law innovations aimed at speeding up play, reducing stoppages, and keeping fans engaged.
Moana Pasifika and Fiji Drua will be among the first to test these rules.
Moana Pasifika travel to face the Drua on Saturday – a match that could offer an early glimpse into how the changes reshape the competition
Speaking with Pacific Mornings Muliaina said the Drua’s home advantage alone make them difficult to beat, and the new laws may amplify that edge.
“The sun’s out, you play at a time you are not used to,” he said. “It’s humid, it’s muggy but that’s really important.
“So it’s a hard place to go and win, but in saying that with the Drua and what they’ve produced, it’s also a great way to start the season.”
Known for their high-tempo, expansive style, the Drua in particular could benefit from laws designed to keep the ball in play and limit repeated scrums and stoppages.
In Muliaina’s view, the goal is simple: “It’s not to confuse people, but also to keep the eyeballs on the game rather than going, oh man another 30 seconds of scrums… and before you know it, [people] are turning to the other channels or leaving the stadium because it’s becoming stop-start.”
Among the five key innovations:
*Referees will no longer be required to automatically issue a yellow or red card when awarding a penalty try. Sanctions will now be at their discretion.
*Accidental offsides and delays at the ruck will result in free kicks, reducing stoppages.
*Once the referee calls “use it” at the ruck, no additional attacking players may join.
*Teams can now pass the ball back into their half before kicking a 50:22.
*Quick taps can be taken within one metre either side of the mark, or anywhere behind it within a two-metre channel.
The adjustments aim to increase continuity and tactical variation while reducing the number of set-piece resets.
With close to 90 yellow cards issued during the 2025 season, competition organisers hope the new approach will lead to fewer automatic send-offs and more 15 on 15 rugby.
All Black and Highlanders lock Fabian Holland also welcomed the changes, saying they would encourage smarter, faster play.
“It speeds up the game, it brings a different way of thinking around the way we play the game,” Holland told RNZ.
For Moana Pasifika and the Fiji Drua, teams that thrive on broken play, counter-attack and flair, the early rounds may reveal whether the rule tweaks truly favour attacking rugby.
Kickoff for Moana Pasifika vs Fiji Drua is 4.35pm (NZT) at Church hill Park, Lautoka Fiji.
