Nathan Rourke Slams CFL’s New Rule Changes
The Canadian Football League is no stranger to debate, but this week it found itself right in the middle of one of the most heated conversations in years. BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who has become one of the most recognizable Canadian faces in the league, did not hold back when asked about the sweeping new rule changes announced by commissioner Stewart Johnston. His reaction? He called them flat-out “garbage.”
These rule changes, which will take effect starting in 2026 and 2027, are some of the most significant the CFL has seen in decades. They include modifications to the playing field, tweaks to the play clock, and adjustments to the famous rouge rule—a scoring quirk that has long been a hallmark of Canadian football. According to Johnston, the intent is to create a more exciting game that prioritizes touchdowns over field goals while improving the overall fan experience both in stadiums and on television. He described the moves as bold but necessary for keeping the CFL competitive in today’s entertainment landscape.
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But Rourke, and many others, aren’t convinced. The quarterback, who grew up in Victoria, B.C., emphasized how much the unique aspects of the CFL mean to fans and players alike. He spoke passionately about how the waggle, the bigger field, and the extra player are what make Canadian football stand apart from its American counterpart. In his view, the proposed changes strip away the league’s identity and push it dangerously close to resembling the NFL.
Rourke also expressed frustration with how the decisions were made. Players, coaches, and football personnel were not consulted before the changes were unanimously approved by the league’s board of governors. To him, that sends the wrong message: that those on the field, the ones who know the game best, were sidelined in favor of a business-driven decision. He even criticized commissioner Johnston directly, questioning whether someone so new to the job truly understood or cared about the tradition of Canadian football.
For Rourke, this is personal. He has spent parts of five seasons in the CFL, highlighted by an outstanding 2022 campaign that earned him the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award and even drew NFL interest. After a brief stint south of the border, he returned to the Lions, reaffirming his love for the Canadian game and its distinct identity. That’s why he finds these changes so frustrating—because in his eyes, they erode the very reasons that make the CFL special.
The league, meanwhile, insists the changes are rooted in data, analytics, and a vision for long-term growth. Johnston praised the governors for being willing to innovate, arguing that the CFL must adapt in order to remain relevant for future generations. Still, the sharp divide in opinion is clear. Some fans may embrace the modernization, while others, like Rourke, feel that a piece of Canada’s football heritage is being lost.
As Rourke put it bluntly, “This isn’t Canadian football anymore, not the game I grew up loving.” And that sense of loss is exactly why this conversation is just beginning.
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