Is a tackle in the air always a yellow card?

Hi

I have had a debate with a guy at my local club about a tackled player in the air. If it is clear one player has tackled a ball carrier in the air but it is not dangerous but poor timing is it just a penalty kick or a yellow card, my view is a PK?

Thanks for the help?

Allister

Hi Allister

The sanction for "Tackling the jumper in the air" is prescribed under Law 10, Foul Play.

10.5 SANCTIONS(a) Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law must be admonished, or cautioned and temporarily suspended for a period of ten minutes’ playing time, or sent-off.

So if the referee decides foul play has been committed it could be just a telling off with a Penalty Kick, a Yellow card, or even a Red card.  World Rugby do however issue guidance to referees from time to time on various areas of the law, and this is one area that was covered recently.

At a meeting in April 2015, the Laws Representation Group (LRG) considered the areas of the Game where, it had been agreed that Law amendments were not required but that current Law was to be enforced by match officials including:

Challenging players in the air - Law 10.4(i)

The options given were: 

• Play on – Fair challenge with both players in a realistic position to catch the ball. Even if the player(s) land(s) dangerously, play on
• Penalty only – Fair challenge with wrong timing - No pulling down
• Yellow card – Not a fair challenge, there is no contest and the player is pulled down landing on his back or side
• Red card – Not a fair challenge, there is no contest and the player lands on his head, neck or shoulder

There are videos to illustrate the above available here:  World Rugby Enforcement of Current Law

So using the guidance, your example of "one player has tackled a ball carrier in the air but it is not dangerous just poor timing" depends on whether the player was making a fair challenge for the ball?  If he was it's a penalty only.  If he wasn't going for the ball and just tackled the other player in the air, then it's a minimum of a penalty with a yellow card.

Hope that answers your debate Allister.
The Rugby Ref