Lions' Rourke: CFL rule changes are 'garbage,' players weren't involved

BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke criticized CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston for making significant and sudden rule changes without discussing them with players and coaches.

"New rule changes are garbage," Rourke said Monday, according to TSN.

Johnston announced several upcoming changes, including modifying the rouge starting in 2026 and moving the goalposts from near the goal line to the back of the end zone in 2027. A point for rouge will only be awarded if a ball carrier is tackled or concedes in the end zone. The CFL is also reducing the end zones from 20 to 15 yards and the field size from 110 yards to 100 yards.

An irritated Rourke said the CFL is taking away the uniqueness of Canadian football by making the game more similar to American football.

"The rule changes, to me, make it sound like we want to be that league down south. ... From recent history and years past, leagues that have tried to emerge and try to be like the NFL haven't existed very long," Rourke said. "The CFL game has existed for longer than the NFL, and there's a reason for that. It's unique, the fans love it. I grew up loving this game, and they're changing that. They're getting rid of a lot of things."

Rourke took the CFL by storm and was named the 2022 CFL Most Outstanding Canadian. He had a brief stint in the NFL with multiple teams in 2023 before reuniting with BC in '24.

"The worst part, I think, about it, honestly, is the fact that the people who play football, who have the football knowledge, were not consulted about this," he added. "Players weren't consulted. Coaches, management - nobody was consulted. This was done on their own court."

Rourke also called out Johnston, who took over as CFL commissioner in April as Randy Ambrosie's replacement. Ambrosie had been in charge since 2017.

"We have a commissioner who hasn't been here for a year, who's already trying to change the game," the Lions passer said. "And I don't believe he loves football as much as I do, as much as many fans do. ... You cannot make adjustments like this and tell me that you like football, that you love the Canadian football game. Because you're changing it."

The CFL's lead governors approved the rule changes unanimously.