▁other ▁law ▁variations ▁used ▁for ▁the ▁N RC ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁were ▁retained ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁season . ▁ ▁Reg ular ▁season ▁ ▁The ▁eight ▁teams ▁competed ▁in ▁a ▁round - ro bin ▁tournament ▁for ▁the ▁regular ▁season . ▁During ▁this ▁section ▁of ▁the ▁competition , ▁teams ▁also ▁played ▁for ▁the ▁Hor an - L ittle ▁Sh ield , ▁a ▁challenge ▁tro phy ▁put ▁on ▁the ▁line ▁when ▁a ▁challenge ▁is ▁accepted ▁by ▁the ▁hold ers ▁or ▁mand ated ▁by ▁the ▁terms ▁of ▁competition ▁for ▁the ▁shield . ▁ ▁Point s ▁for ▁the ▁regular ▁season ▁stand ings ▁were ▁accum ulated ▁by ▁the ▁same ▁method ▁as ▁for ▁The ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁and ▁Super ▁Rugby . ▁A ▁slightly ▁modified ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁standard ▁competition ▁points ▁system ▁was ▁used , ▁with ▁a ▁bonus ▁point ▁awarded ▁to ▁a ▁winning ▁team ▁scoring ▁at ▁least ▁ 3 ▁tries ▁more ▁than ▁their ▁oppon ent ; ▁and ▁a ▁bonus ▁point ▁awarded ▁to ▁a ▁losing ▁team ▁defeated ▁by ▁a ▁margin ▁of ▁ 7 ▁points ▁or ▁under . ▁Four ▁points ▁were ▁awarded ▁for ▁a ▁win ▁and ▁none ▁for ▁a ▁loss ; ▁two ▁points ▁were ▁awarded ▁to ▁each ▁team ▁if ▁a ▁match ▁was ▁drawn . ▁ ▁Each ▁team ' s ▁pla cement ▁was ▁based ▁on ▁its ▁cum ulative ▁points ▁total , ▁including ▁any ▁bonus ▁points ▁earned . ▁For ▁teams ▁level ▁on ▁table ▁points , ▁tie break ers ▁apply ▁in ▁the ▁following ▁order : ▁ ▁D ifference ▁between ▁points ▁for ▁and ▁against ▁during ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁Head -