{
  "id": 3216199,
  "title": "NRL makes a special rule change to help Jai Arrow reach 100 Rabbitohs games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/nrl-makes-a-special-rule-change-to-help-jai-arrow-reach-100-rabbitohs-3216199",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T07:08:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nrl-makes-special-rule-change-070809502.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jai Arrow, the 31-year-old South Sydney Rabbitohs forward, is battling motor neurone disease, a progressive neurological condition. The NRL has granted the club special permission to include Arrow as an additional player and substitution for his 99th and 100th rugby league games for the Rabbitohs, if only briefly. Arrow will don the Rabbitohs uniform, take the field, be the first substitution of the match, and be able to sit on the interchange bench for the rest of the game without participating in any play. This special dispensation extends to the Rabbitohs' final regular season game against the Sydney Roosters. Arrow's milestone brings his total career games in the NRL to 180, including 100 for the Rabbitohs and his representative games for Queensland in the State of Origin series. NRL chairman Peter V'landys praised the Rabbitohs for their compassionate gesture, highlighting Arrow's inspiration to millions worldwide and his courage in his battle with MND. The NRL community extends its support to Arrow and his family as they celebrate this remarkable achievement.",
  "summary": "Motor neurone disease is not likely to stop Jai Arrow trying to bring up a career milestone in Australia's National Rugby League. The NRL is planning an exception to its rules to allow the veteran forward a chance to be on the field for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in his 99th and 100th rugby league games for the club, if only for a few moments. Arrow, 31, was diagnosed in May with motor neurone…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "NRL changes rules to allow Jai Arrow to 'play' 100 games for Souths",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/nrl-changes-rules-to-allow-jai-arrow-to-play-100-games-for-souths",
        "published": "2026-08-25T01:48:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Arrow to play two more Rabbitohs games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/arrow-to-play-two-more-rabbitohs-games",
        "published": "2026-08-25T02:15:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Arrow to play two more Rabbitohs games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/arrow-to-play-two-more-rabbitohs-games-3166538",
        "published": "2026-08-25T02:15:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "NRL makes a special rule change to help Jai Arrow reach 100 Rabbitohs games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/nrl-makes-a-special-rule-change-to-help-jai-arrow-reach-100-rabbitohs",
        "published": "2026-08-25T07:08:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}