Try this for the forum_rules template instead:
PHP Code:
$stylevar[htmldoctype]
<html dir="$stylevar[textdirection]" lang="$stylevar[languagecode]">
<head>
<!-- no cache headers -->
<meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache" />
<meta http-equiv="Expires" content="-1" />
<meta http-equiv="Cache-Control" content="no-cache" />
<!-- end no cache headers -->
<title><phrase 1="$vboptions[bbtitle]">$vbphrase[x_powered_by_vbulletin]</phrase></title>
$headinclude
</head>
<body>
$header
$navbar
<form action="index.php" method="post">
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="1" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
<td class="tcat">Design Forum Rules</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="panelsurround" align="center">
<div class="panel">
<div style="width:640px" align="left">
<fieldset class="fieldset">
<legend>Forum Rules</legend>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" border="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td>In order to proceed, you must agree with the following rules:</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="alt1" style="border:thin inset; padding:6px; height:225px; overflow:auto">
<!-- regular forum rules -->
$vbphrase[custom_forum_rules]
<!-- regular forum rules -->
</div>
<div><label><input type="checkbox" name="agree" value="1" /><strong>I have read, and agree to abide by $vboptions[bbtitle] rules.</strong></label>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</fieldset>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-top:6px">
<input type="hidden" name="$bbuserinfo[userid]" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
$footer