Return of scrums and more red cards? Key issues ahead of Super League XXVII

The 27th season of Super League will get under way on Thursday with a sense of normality returning to the game.

Here, the PA news agency tries to answer a few of the burning questions about the new campaign.

The RFL believes more fixtures would have been lost but for the decision to scrap scrums in 2020 but, as life returns to normal, it is time for them to return but do not expect them to make a big difference.

Scrums will only be awarded for infringements on tackles one to four for forward passes, knock-ons and accidental offside. The rest of the time it is a handover, including when players kick the ball into touch or are forced over the touchline, so you may be able to count the number of scrums in a match on one hand.

Coaches and players are largely in favour of their return as it gives teams more attacking options from the set-piece but, more importantly, it brings the English game into line with Australia, which kept scrums going throughout, in time for the end-of-season World Cup.

It is worth noting that the team with head and feed at a scrum can decide where to position it – 10 or 20 metres in from touch or in the centre of the field. The default position is 20m if the captain fails to notify the referee inside five seconds.

If a player breaks from the scrum early, it will result in a full penalty instead of differential one so a team can kick for goal. The team can choose to re-pack the scrum if they wish and, if a player again breaks early, he will be sent to the sin-bin.

An incorrect play-the-ball will result in a turn-over and the game has reverted to the old ball-steal rule, removing the grey area in which players dropped off the tackle just before its completion to allow the ball to be stolen. It is a