Hi Ref,

I saw some GMG which mentioned “Rolling the ball back with hands by the scrum half position player during ruck, the ruck is end.

How do you think and what laws supports this?

Regards,

Bly

Hi there

This brings up an interesting discussion around Game Management Guidelines (GMG's).  Every Union tends to have either their own set of GMG's, or none at all.  If your Union has GMG's then you should follow those, this will put you in step with all the other match officials in your area/country.

For the purpose of this discussion however let’s stick to the laws of the game. 

15.11. Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet.

15.14. Players may play the ball with their feet, provided they do so in a safe manner.

15.17. When the ball has been clearly won by a team at the ruck, and is available to be played, the referee calls use it, after which the ball must be played away from the ruck within five seconds.

So the scrum half may move the ball to the back of the ruck with their foot and then play it away.

The law would suggest that using the hands to move the ball to the back of the ruck would be a penalty, 

Picking the ball up and playing it away means the ruck is over.

In reality if the ball is trapped we will allow the scrum half to use their hands to roll it back until it is free, this is to allow the game to flow, otherwise they must use their feet.

Thanks

The Rugby Ref

Trash Talk

 Hi Ref,

Is trash talk illegal in Rugby games?

As a ref, should I penalize the trash talker? Based on which law?

Here, the trash talks are not dirty talks. For example, “the hooker cannot throw straight” during a line out; they play like a kids….

Stuff like that.

Bly

Regards

Hi Bly

This will depend to some degree on which country you are in, but is also covered in Law.

In England the RFU have rugby values, or TREDS.

Teamwork:  Respect:  Enjoyment:  Discipline:  Safety 

These are the values that players, coaches and referees should be adhering to.  Stepping outside these values is against the spirit of the game.

The rugby values are covered in law by Law 9.27

Law 9 Foul Play

27. A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.

 The sanction for breaking Law 9.27 is a Penalty, but referees should manage this in the first instance by reminding the players of the core values of the game, then escalating if necessary.  Ask, Tell, Penalise.

Thanks

The Rugby Ref

Kick Forward question

Hi there Ref

I saw a situation the other day and was not sure if it was legal or not and request your advice.

Situation:

Blue team backs have the ball in the middle of the park and the centre chips the ball forward and all the backs advance, The parson who chipped the ball get to the bouncing ball first and kicks it off the ground as its bouncing, a second blue player who was just in front of the this person collects the bouncing ball collects the ball and scores a try.

So was he off side if he was in front of the player kicking the ball? I don’t think it could be a forward pass as a kick is not a pass is it ?

Hi Alan

Thanks for your question.   

Law 10.1 A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes :

a. Playing the ball.

b. Tackling the ball-carrier.

c. Preventing the opposition from playing as they wish.

So after the second kick, the team-mate in front of the kicker is offside and must not interfere with play. Since the player in front "played the ball" he did interfere with play.  Penalty.

Thanks for the question

The Rugby Ref

RIP Her Majesty The Queen

 On behalf of the rugby union community in England, we offer our condolences to the whole Royal Family at this time.

We are deeply grateful for Her Majesty’s support of our sport over many years, including serving as the RFU’s Patron for 64 years, helping the Union to celebrate its centenary in 1971, her reception at Buckingham Palace after England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, and honours bestowed on many of those who have served the game.

Her Majesty earned the respect and affection of generations of rugby players and supporters here in the England and around the world.

The St George’s Flag has been lowered to half mast at Twickenham Stadium.

Summary of Law Changes for the 2022 season

 LAW CHANGES 1 JULY 2022

Following the World Rugby Council meeting in May 2022, a number of law changes have

been made. These all come into force for the whole game on 1 July 2022.

The five current Global Law Trials Goal Line Drop-out, 50:22, jackler protection, banning pre-bound pods in open play (flying wedge) and approving a single latcher will become full law.

There are two new Global Law Trials

- Brake foot - At the scrum, hookers must have a brake foot in place during "Crouch" and "Bind" phases, and is removed on "Set".  This is to reduce axial loading on the hookers.

- Water carriers - New restrictions on medics and water carriers have been introduced as well as formalising technical zones into law. This is primarily related to the elite game, but the principles apply to all levels of the game.

These will become Global Law Trials until at least the end of 2023. There are also a number of

minor amends to law that have arisen from previous clarifications.

FULL DOCUMENT HERE

Leggings now legal for all players.

A new law amendment from World Rugby, effective immediately (12 Oct 2021), will mean that all players now have the option of wearing tights/leggings on any playing surface.

The World Rugby Executive Committee today approved an amendment to the laws of the game and Law 4 will now be extended. Currently permissible for women, Law 4 – covering player’s clothing – will now be extended to all participants with immediate effect, enabling the wearing of tights or leggings that are a cotton blend with a single inside leg seam.

The announcement has been made on welfare and accessibility grounds and reflects the growing worldwide use of World Rugby Regulation 22 compliant artificial surfaces at both the elite and community levels, which have played a role in increased rugby accessibility and participation. With some players susceptible to abrasions on artificial surfaces, the decision gives players the option to wear tights or leggings as a preventative measure, maximising access to the game.

World Rugby have said they will continue to work with unions and registered artificial turf providers to ensure that rigorous best-practice maintenance programmes are observed that minimise the risk of abrasions, particularly in relation to brushing and watering especially in hot conditions.

The wording does not restrict leggings to any particular surface, so leggings may be worn in any match, on any surface.

New law wording:

Law 4: Players clothing.

Section 3: Additional clothing list – new section K added:

4.3 Additional items are permitted. These are….:

k) Cotton blend long tights or leggings, with single inside leg seam under their shorts and socks.

The Rugby Ref 

Taken Back In

Hi,

Just watching the All Blacks v S Africa game and a Springbok player kicked from his own 22 with the ball landing a metre or so outside the All Black's 22 which obviously is not a 50:22.

The All Blacks Outside Half picked the ball up out of play and staying out of play retreated behind his 22 line, he then threw the ball quickly to his winger who was in the 22 who then kicked directly to touch within the Springbok's half - should this have been classed as taking the ball back into your own 22 with the line out throw awarded to the Springboks in the All Blacks 22.

Rob

Hi Rob

Good question, and yes you are correct, the ball was taken back into the 22, so no gain in ground should have occurred and the resulting lineout should have been in line with where the ball was kicked.

Law 18.7 refers to this and is accompanied in the Law Book with a diagram to illustrate it.

18.7. If the mark of touch is outside the 22, the defending team may take the quick throw inside the 22 but is deemed to have taken the ball into the 22.

The Rugby Ref