Ask us your rugby laws questions
- 2 Feb 07, 09:07 AM
My colleague Nigel Owens and I will be on hand throughout the tournament to answer your questions about the laws of game - starting this weekend.
So if you see something during the three matches that you don't fully understand, just ask it here.
As I am sure you will appreciate, we won't be able to comment on the rights and wrongs of individual decisions, so please ensure your question is about a general point of law rather than a personal comment.
That way you'll have a better chance of getting your question answered! We look forward to hearing from you.
Wales 27-18 England
Comments Post your comment
When I last looked at the rules 16.4 b
Says Players must not handle the ball in a ruck. However in almost every game of professional rugby I see, players from the team with the ball in a ruck, push the ball towards the scrum half with their hands. (the ball is on the ground)
I have never seen the team in possession penalised for this behaviour. Is this a law that is just ignored or am I missing something ?
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Does all the ball have to over the try line ( as in soccer) to be awarded a try?
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Just a quick question before the games - I've head that in the dead-ball area (behind the try line) you can legally pass the ball forward. Is this true?
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If a player drops the ball, it goes backwards behind the player, but then roles forward in front of the player. Is this classed as a knock on.
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I agree with the introduction of the 'touch, pause, engage' rule to encourage safety. But what is the point if it merely requires props to slap each other's forearms before engaging. Are refs encouraged to check that the props are close enough to touch each others' shoulders?
Admittedly this is not a criticism of the 6 nations (as it's not started yet) but rugby that I have watch on tv and played myself. As a prop it would be good to hear a professional refs opinion.
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when a ruck is happening and the ball comes out of the back past the back foot is it then legal to come round to retrieve it or are you still off-side for coming round as the scrum-half hasn't picked it up?
My son has been penalised for coming round but the ball is obviously out!
Thanks
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why if you accidentally drop the ball and take a kick at it is this classed as a knock-on whereas if you do a drop goal (dropping the ball forward and taking a kick at it) it's fine?
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Hi,
I've a question about the pitch more than the rules? What's the history behind the 22 yard line? What was it's function before the different laws about kicking to touch etc.? Why 22 yards?
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Post 2 - No, any part of the ball can be touching the line, no more, and that's a try.
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Re: Graham Marsh
As for your question about the try line, the try is awarded if any part of the ball is touching any part of the line, providing there is downward pressure and the ball in deemed to be in the control of the attacking player.
It does not need to be fully over the line.
Obviously if the attacking player has any part of their body on or over the touch line as they put the ball over the try line, the try will not be given.
That may not be technically accurate to every last point of the rule, but it is my best attempt at explaning!
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"If you see something during the weekend's action that you don't fully understand - just ask us"
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it's a shame this faciliy wasn't available to Andy Robinson when he was in charge.
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The new law that has been introduced at the scrum is useless. If the hierarchy wanted to make the scrums safer they should have made the phrase "crouch grab pause engage" where the two props hold on to the opposite props shoulder. As the law stands now the impact factor still remains.
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Does the attacking team at a scrum choose from which side they will put the ball in, or is there a set rule? I was taught at school that the attacking team always puts the ball in from their left- is that right?
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This naswer is refering to the rule of hands iun the ruck, no your not aloud to have your hands in the ruck but players do it anyway when they "think" the ref cant see them but most of the time the ref has so much going on around him he often finds it hard to take every aspect of the game in.
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To Rob H
(In the absence of answers by the esteemed Messrs Watkins & Owens...)
It depends where your son (or any other player, obviously) was standing when they moved forward to play the ball. If they weren't behind the back foot of the ruck from their side's perspective, then they're offside and a penalty should be given (at least - if done close to your own try line it's often also a yellow card). If, OTOH, they come from behind the back foot, or were bound into the ruck, then they're onside and there's no offence. There's also no need for the opposing scrum-half to play the ball first: once it emerges (ie moves beyond the back foot on either side) the ruck is over and any onside player on either team can legitimately play the ball.
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In the absence of any referee input...
#3, no. If the ball goes dead then players will throw the ball forward to the person taking a 22 drop-out, but since play has stopped at this stage it isn't a 'pass' as such.
#5, the 'touch' step was introduced to ensure that opposing front rows weren't too far apart, in order to reduce the physical impact, and risk of injury, on engage and to help reduce the number of re-set scrums needed in a game.
#6, when the ball is out of the back of the ruck then it is in open play and a player can come round the pile of bodies and pick it up. If, though, a player comes round from an illegal position, e.g. they joined the ruck from the side, then they are still offisde.
#8, the issue is with the loss of control; if a player loses control of the ball and it goes forward then it is a knock on regardless of the kick. (If the ball goes forward but is controlled then it's a forward pass.) Technically the ball goes forward in a drop-kick but it is recognised as a legitimate move.
#9, it is the 22 metre line and before metric conversion it was the 25 yard line, i.e. one quarter of the length of a 100 yard pitch.
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Why is so much of the game down to "interpretation" by Referees?
For example, the rule book states that a ruck is at least two players from opposing sides driving over the ball. However, ref's frequently penalise players for holding on the floor even though players from his own side have arrived to create a ruck. For many ref's it seems that merely being on their feet allows an opposing player to rip the ball, even if supporting players have arrive, creating a ruck.
Many break-downs are considered to be "tackles" until the ref calls "ruck", even if there are opposing players driving over the ball - surely a ruck is formed as soon as two opposing players meet at the tackle area?
Also, by the rule book, tackled players who are grounded are "out of the game", they may not play the ball. However, when "turned in the tackle" players are frequently allowed to move in the tackle and push the ball back to their supporting players, often resulting in the tackler being penalised for slowing the ball.
"Turning" a player in the tackle used to be considered a good tackle and would allow a turn-over, opening the game up, allowing for a more competetive, faster game. These days most ref's seem to want to guarantee possession to the attacking team and will allow players to "play the ball" in a tackle and will penalise tacklers who have successfully turned a player away from his support. Why?
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a. Can you score a try by touching any part of the post defender, ie three feet off the ground? Players don't seem to defend against this.
b. If I catch the ball in play but with one foot grounded over the touchline, does it count as 'straight out', and hence take the throw back, if kicked from outside the 22?
c.Similarly, if I pick up the ball behind the try line, but with one foot grounded over dead ball line, does that count as going dead and give a scrum back?
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I sometimes don't understand how it can be a 'knock on'? Sometimes a player taking the ball can appear to knock the ball behind him as he is running and yet a knock on is given. Is this because of his forward momentum? For me it is not always clear cut. surely a fumble in the hands is not the same as a knock on and yet the advantage is switched to the opposition from the resulting penalty.
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During a game against LNR sevens their fly-half went for a drop goal from his own half just inside halfway line to his credit the first time he did he got it the second time it clouted the ref on the way up thus coming back down rather quickly, once the ref had picked himself he awarded the drop goal, surely he made an error there?
rhys
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In response to how many teams are in the six nations. You will find that there are five plus Wales
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16a) Yes. Martyn Williams did it in one of the games in 2005 for Wales. I can't remember which though.
16b) I believe so, and I'd presume the same would go for 16c).
18) I'll admit, that seems a little weird, but if the ref deems himself to have been in the way and as having interfered with the play and prevented a score, I'd imagine it would be at his discretion to make some sort of judgement. Somewhat as if a player were to score a goal off the ref in football.
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Hello,
Recently I have come across a situation that when the match is being played in injury time (after 80 minutes) a player from the attacking side wants to finish the game off quickly, can they just run off the pitch deliberately ? because I thought they had to kick it out of play to finish the game.
Thanks
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#15 The formation of a ruck doesn't matter with regards to a player holding onto the ball he has to release immediately once tackled so it makes no odds whether a ruck has formed or not. They are allowed to place the ball once in any given direction which may answer your second query but this must be done immediately.
#16 the ball must be grounded against the bottom of the post, not any part. Both your second points you would be out of play as your foot is outside the field of play so you are in touch when you caught the ball. As for whether this would result in a throw back for you or the oppositions throw where you caught it , I would imagine you would get the throw back but im not 100%.
#3 further to the point made- Will greenwood made a mistake of not touching a ball dead before throwing it back for a 22 after a missed penalty and a 5m scrum was awarded- cant remember the game though.
#6 the breakdown is contentious its hard to judge- technically the ball is out when it is behind the last foot but the referee wil normally call ball out- personally I always shout the ref before going round - its always going to depend on his interpretation.
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Hi there, i was just wondering if you are allowed to wear blades in rugby? and what studs are yout not allowed? thanks
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Think nobody has answered these so far...
Andy - If a player drops the ball, it goes backwards behind the player, but then roles forward in front of the player. Is this classed as a knock on.
No, only the way the player knocked the ball counts.
Rich - Does the attacking team at a scrum choose from which side they will put the ball in, or is there a set rule? I was taught at school that the attacking team always puts the ball in from their left- is that right?
They don't choose, the ball is put in at the loose head side for the attacker (the left if you are facing the scrum from the No. 8 position of the attacking team)
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Re: #16a
I think if memory serves, Wales were playing France when that Martyn Williams try was scored, but it could have been Italy. Anyway, the ball has to be both on the ground and touching the post defender where the line would otherwise be to get awarded.
Mashing the ball into the post at head height isn't going to be awarded as a try.
Re: #24
At the end of the game, as long as the ball gets in touch and the time is up, that would be classed as the end. The only way that play does not stop in a dead ball situation after the time is if a penalty has been awarded.
If the ball gets off the pitch, either kicked or run, and time is up, the ref will blow for full time. Again that's my understanding, as none of the professional refs have commented, it'll have to do for now!
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#1 In some circumstances, if the ball has obviously been won in the ruck by using the boot (or completely rucking the opposition off the ball) then the referee may allow hands to push the ball to the scrum half just to speed up play.
#18(a) the law book does state that as you say for a ruck to be formed. However, in a tackle, the tackler must roll away and the ball carrier must release the ball immediately, once this has happened, as long as the tackler gets back to his feet and a ruck has not formed, he has full rights to the ball. in my experience many tackled players will hold on to the ball until support arrives. This can be misunderstood as the original tackler handling in the ruck but in actual fact, he had possetion of the ball before support arrived, thus a ruck was never formed.
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Are scrum halfs allowed to do dummies when putting the ball nto the scrum. As in pretend to put the ball in but don't and then put it in. As a scum half I was penilised for telling the ref that the opposition scrum half was doing it and I was wondering if it was allowed.
Cheers
Tom
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Can someone please explain the drop goal law. If a player takes a punt upfield and it goes over the dead ball line, there is a scrum taken from where the kick took place. What happens if that punt goes through the sticks? If you take a shot at a drop goal and it misses by a mile, why is there a 22yd drop out, and not a scrum from where the drop goal was attempted?
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#3 further to the point made- Will greenwood made a mistake of not touching a ball dead before throwing it back for a 22 after a missed penalty and a 5m scrum was awarded- cant remember the game though.
^ This I believe was in the RWC group stages.
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Many times I have seen tacklers penalised for offside when they have released the player and come round, facing towards their own tryline, trying to steal the ball (legally).
Why does this happen? That's only offside if a ruck has formed.
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hi, i was wondering can you dump tackle because i was told it was a spear tackle whats the ruling with spear tackles and dump tackles thanks
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When a side, playing with advantage after being awarded a penalty, kick a long touch, would it not be better if the referee could give the team with the advantage the choice of accepting the kick, and getting the throw in at the line-out?
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If you can't get Messrs. Butler and Moore to agree on the referee's decisions when commentating, why not get a retired International Referee to give an interpretation. It was difficult to understnad whether they were watching the same game between England and Scotland in the first half. For the record I think Butler was right about the body block which Moore thought should have been a penalty, which shows my independance because I'm not a Welshman!
John
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Is there a special law for Johnny Wilkinson as I thought there was a rule by which a player with an open wound or bleeding injury had to leave the field of play to have the blood flow stemmed before being allowed to continue the game.
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What action can be taken against a TV official who gets a decision in a game clearly and demonstrably wrong?
Does this have any effect on whether he will be chosen to officiate on future matches?
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What exactly are the rules reference to "blood injuries"?
I have always told, and had it enforced, that if a player was bleeding, whether a large or small amount, then they must leave the field of play to be attended to. When or if, they return then they cannot continue to play if bleeding starts again, but must be attended to again. A blood substitute being allowed as often as required.
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Re: #30
I think it is illegal to dummy a put in to the scrum in the same way it is illegal to dummy a throw into the lineout. I could be wrong though.
Re: #31
I believe the difference is in the drop bit - i.e. the ball bouncing before contact is made. If it is a punt out of hand, normal laws into touch apply if it goes dead or out on the full.
You can't punt it out of hand through the sticks, or rather, you could, but it wouldn't count.
Re: #34
You can dump tackle - you have to be in control of the throwing the player to the ground though, and you can't plant them head first into the ground, which is a spear tackle as the likelihood of serious injury is high.
Re: #37 and #38
Do you like those grapes you're eating, or are they a bit sour? Seriously though, usually if it is a serious blood injury, the player will be forced off - if a cut to the face, lip, nose etc as is very common in many games and the bleeding can be stemmed by the player, often the referee will let the player continue.
Also, the Wilkinson try didn't affect the outcome, it was touch and go and the TV official gave it. People make mistakes, there isn't much excuse for after having so many angles, but it does happen. 10/10 for effort from Wilko, but I think he probably knew he hadn't scored it.
At least in his post match interview, he was humble and praised the whole team, instead of trying to claim a try that probably never was. I feel it's justice for Jamie Noon's try not being awarded in the Autumn, but I would think that, because I'm English!
Aside to that, the Scots aquitted themselves reasonably, but would be better off keeping more ball in hand. They have a good chance against Wales and Italy.
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The wlkinson try typifies everything about English Rugby ; they Know how to cheat
The TV referee must be blind . No matter what angle you look at it it was not a try' What is the law withregards blodd. Is there one law for Johnny Wilkinson and anther lea foe Alister Kellock. Aanswers on a postcard
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I'd like to support Andrew's point above. How is it possible that a video ref, with one decision to make in the game, can get it wrong when many drunken englishmen in a rugby club can watch the same footage and get it right. The video ref must be asked to explain his decision, before he resigns.
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re: Wilkinson's try
"LAW 12. TRY AND TOUCH-DOWN
A try may be scored by a player who is in touch or in touch-in-goal provided he is not carrying the ball."
I'm surprised no-one has referred to the above as a possible interpretation from the TV official.
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re: Wilkinson's try
"LAW 12. TRY AND TOUCH-DOWN
A try may be scored by a player who is in touch or in touch-in-goal provided he is not carrying the ball."
I'm surprised no-one has referred to the above as a possible interpretation from the TV official.
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Do refs realise that if a small player has pulled down an opponent who is large and heavy and arm and or a leg are underneath the player it is a physical impossibility to "roll away"!
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Question for wop in number 43 "Who was carrying the ball then. Wilkinson's ghost?"
He is a great player but there did seem to be some funny goings on in his favour.
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to answer the sarcastic question about Wilkinson's blood injury, he was treated to clot the bleeding, the blood on his face and shirt was from before play had been stopped. The stitches were added at half-time to stop the wound reopenning.
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Phil(N0 47)about Wilkinsons stitches, the stitches that were in place clearly failed and the wound reopened during the second half, as a few times he was seen wiping blood away from his mouth and spitting some away at various intervals, after tackles and before kicks, yet he did not leave the pitch to recieve nor was attended to on the pitch for the "blood injury". This I think is the question that most people seem puzzled over, OR are you implying that HE ALONE is the English team and so couldn't be spared to get the neccessary assistance? Rules apply to ALL, or so I thought?
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In ruck and semi ruck situations, why are forwards allowed to block opponents and to tackle opponents who do not have the ball. Thus protecting their team mate in who is in possession. If a three-quarter ran 30 yards to tackle an opposite number he would be booed off the field. Yet in every game forwards get away with playing the opponent and not the ball.
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Morg - if you thought the Wilkinson try was "touch and go" then can I recommend that you pop down to your local optician at the earliest opportunity (in fact get someone to take you - crossing the road with that eyesight must be very dangerous).
Ask someone to read out Jonathan Davies comment on the try to you - or is he suffering from sour grapes as well?
"I can't believe Donal Courtney gave Jonny that try. It was an unbelievable decision. He should be demoted and the next international taken away from him."
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What is the law with rgard blood injuries? How was that Alister Kellock had to go off immediately and yet Johnny Wilkinson was allowed to remain on the pitch with blood obviously seeming from a wound?
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#43 - Think you must be using an old rule book as Law 12 deals with "Knock on and Throw Forward". The law you are referring to is 22.4(g) - it cannot possibly apply here as Wilkinson was carrying the ball.
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#43 - Think you must be using an old rule book as Law 12 deals with "Knock on and Throw Forward". The law you are referring to is 22.4(g) - it cannot possibly apply here as Wilkinson was carrying the ball.
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#1. The takeled player has to be given the opertunity to place the ball, but no one else REALY should they should be on their feet and part of the ruck.
#2. For a try to be awarded only PART of the ball has to be ON the line it doesn't have to be all of the ball over the line.
#3 The ball is techinicaly out of play and therefore is usualy being passed to the #10 so he can talk a 22 drop.
#5 The new phase in the scrum is designed (i think) to alow the props to get an idea of how far their arm has to go to bind legaly and as this happens refs have become more focused on seeing a correct binding.
#6 If the ball has come out the back the ref as to say "Ball's out" then there is no ruck so you could, but it is at the refs disgression.
#7 6 teams all play aganst each other,5 games so if you watch all games throughout you will see 15 games.
#13 see my comment on #5
#14 i think it is always on the opposite to the blindside ( the side wich they are furthest from the touch line.
hope you find these usefull
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Yesterday the entire Italian Front row was replaced together. I recall that you were not allowed to do this.
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Funny thing about Wilkinson's try, if a Scot or a Welshman for that matter had scored then the posters on here would not have been complaining and would just say that you have to accept the TMO's decision - funny that.
There have been plenty of times when decisions like that have gone against England - Jamie Noons try against New Zealand and I remember a few seasons ago a winning try against South Africa was disallowed.
In my opinion, after all the crap Wilkinson has had over the past few years, he was due a bit of luck in his favour. C'est la vie.
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Re: #47
Get over it, it is up to the referee and he didn't see fit for him to go off. To the letter of the law, I suspect that perhaps when the injury first occured, he should have.
However, it's a bit like pushing the jumper in the lineout, hands in the ruck and straying slightly offside - these things do happen and if the ref doesn't notice, you will not get penalised.
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Ok can anybody explain to me how a mans foot can be in touch and then the game is allowed to continue such that he can then score a try. How much does a video ref get paid and is he watching the right video, or his he indulged in a movie.
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#51 - it IS possible for a player to have a foot in touch and score a try.
If the ball is loose in the in-goal area and the player is not carrying the ball, he can touch it down while his foot is in touch and the tr will be given.
However if he is carrying the ball and his foot is in touch it is only a try if the TMO is watching Ready Steady Cook instead of the game he is being paid to take decisions on.
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Get over it all you whingers, wilkoes try was sublime, any other nationality and there would not be any of this fuss, when it's England however we should all be banned from playing any form of contact sport and condemned to a life of hell and damnation. Once again the man is gifted and the TRY was...... words fail me!!!!!!!
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hello I have few questions
1) at the scrum when the referee sad pause can number 2 stand up and say i am not ready and not to get a penalty?
2) when there is a penalty, the player start the ball and made a knock on, and the defense player did not touch the attacker. What should the referee wisel to?
3) when there is a ruck, and the scum off touching the ball can the player from the defense team come from the back throw the side?
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Regarding the incident where Simon Easterby is supposed to have illegally challanged for the ball.
I thought the ref made an excellent decision.
Easterby did not tackle the player but stretched for the ball and despite not making contact with the ball genuinly attempted to challange for it.
The welsh player merely tripped over Easterby's body.
As a ref at youth a doubt i will ever have to adudicate such a situation but would it be the correct decision should it (re)occur?
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"The wlkinson try typifies everything about English Rugby ; they Know how to cheat" Ken. 2007.
Well, KEN, nice piece of national stereotyping there.... did you think that up whilst drinking Special Brew and dancing around in a skirt...... stupid isn't it!!
Wilkinson played well. You didn't play. The TMO made a bad decision. Get over it.
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In the Wales-Ireland game, James Hook went to take the penalty and even though the balll didnt touch his foot, the Irish players were allowed to charge.
I thought the ball had to touch the foot on a tap penalty before you could rush up. Is this correct?
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I appreciate you say you will not comment on individual decisions and I hope you will accept this question as it is meant, - a question of the rules.
Could you explain why Ronan O'Gara decided to charge down James Hook's penalty in Cardiff, and why the referee agreed with O'Gara that the ball was in play?
I understood that Hook had nominated to kick to touch and had made a mark with his heel.
It was also my understanding that the opposition were required to retreat 10m from the mark and that they couldn't charge a penalty kick.
I noted that no other player (Irish or Welsh) seemed aware that the ball was in play.
Whad did O'Gara and the Ref. see?
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Here's a thought on "that try". I seem to remember the reason the Noon ty in the autumn wasn't given was that the referee had asked the wrong question. The video ref can only answer the questiion he is asked. Therefore, if the ref asked him "Was there downward pressure on the ball before he hit the flag?", then the video ref can only say, yes, and the ref gives the try. I thought the result of the fuss last year was thet the ref should be asking "Is there any reason why I shouldn't give that try?" In which case the video ref can use anything he sees. If that's what happened, it's the ref who screwed up, not the video ref. Anybody know if that is the case?
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Here's a thought on "that try". I seem to remember the reason the Noon ty in the autumn wasn't given was that the referee had asked the wrong question. The video ref can only answer the questiion he is asked. Therefore, if the ref asked him "Was there downward pressure on the ball before he hit the flag?", then the video ref can only say, yes, and the ref gives the try. I thought the result of the fuss last year was thet the ref should be asking "Is there any reason why I shouldn't give that try?" In which case the video ref can use anything he sees. If that's what happened, it's the ref who screwed up, not the video ref. Anybody know if that is the case?
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As I recall, it was a free kick and not a penelty. The rules on free kicks state the following:
21(e) Charging the free kick. Once they have retired the necessary distance, players of the opposing team may charge and try to prevent the kick being taken. They may charge the free kick as soon as the kicker starts to approach to kick.
Hook had started his approach, and o'Gara was acting legally in charging the kick down.
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#63 - James Hook was taking a free kick, not a tap penalty. In the case of a free kick the opposing player may attempt to block as soon as the player motions to take the kick, he doesn't have to wait for a tap.
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#63 & 64:
Firstly the decision was a free kick not a penalty which is the big difference. The ruling states that the ball is back in play when the player begins his motion to play the ball. This might be approaching the mark with intent, to kick it to touch or, as Hook did, make a dummy to tap it. O'Gara was quite within his right to charge but not many players seem to be aware of this rule. This is similar to conversions, where players can try and charge down the kick once the kicker has begun his run-up.
With a penalty, the players must remain 10 yards away until the attacking player has made contact with the ball.
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wots a nok on?
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im interested in comment number 1 as my team mates hav been penalised for doing the same thing but it happens all the time on the international stage. could i get a reply on this please?
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I was wondering if any of the ref鈥檚 had any comment regarding the comments attributed to Steve Walsh ahead of the Ireland / France game.
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is it illegal to tackle a man without tyhe ball
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ref ? no48 He is not tackling the forward player but trying to drive over the ball so then the ball becomes open play
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Often when a ref has signalled for a penalty and is playing advantage, the attacking team will deliberately throw the ball forward to to end the advantage and take the penalty. Surely if they chose to do this, they are choosing to lose the advantage in a similar way to if they kick the ball down field (but not if they fail with a drop kick I note!?). Surely if you deliberately throw the ball forward it is advantage over and a forward pass?
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A player is standing just outside the field of play. The ball is kicked towards him just over head height. He jumps up and hits the ball back into play. At the instant he hits the ball both he and the ball are outside the field of play but his feet are well off the ground.What is the decision? This happened to me as a touch judge and I allowed play to continue.
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If the ball is kicked through and a player falls on to the ball to secure it, does a chasing opponent have to allow him to regain his feet or are they entitled, assuming that they remain on their feet, to compete for the ball on the ground with their hands? If so does the player on the ground have to immediately release?
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#58 - Isn't it the case that if the ball is in play within the in-goal area and the player who touches it down has a foot in touch then that player is deemed 'in touch'? I was always under the impression that if any part of you is on or over the touch line then you're in touch.
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I don't understand the ruling about a PENALTY TRY.
These days it happens quite frequently & was never an issue when I was playing about 100 years ago ( OAP )
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Now its the Scots moaning about the Welsh cheating- last week it was the Welsh moaning about the Irish
Why doesn't everybody accept that everybody is cheating and its up to the refs to decide who is cheating the most or least.
If everyone is cheating then at the end of the day it will be the best team who wins anyway.
Unless of course Steve Walsh is refereeing and he has already decided that it is only Ireland who cheat!
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what type of studs aren't allowed in rugby. thanks
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Can a player in a ruck bind on to the opposing scrum half as he (the SH) approaches the ruck, i.e., before the ruck ends, and assuming the player remains legally bound in the ruck? I saw two penalties awarded on Sunday for "going for the scrum half", with a shoulder-patting gesture made by the referee; something I haven't seen before, though I have heard plenty of refs shouting warnings to leave the scrum half alone. (Please delete that last sentence if it's too close to discussing rights or wrongs of particular incidents.)
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If a player kicks the ball and then is late tackled, I have been told that the law book says that a scrum would be awarded where the ball landed or a penalty from where the kick was kicked from.
Is this correct?
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What are the rules about taking a line-out quickly, ie not having the full "team" on both sides...?
I'd like to do it in our Colt team, but not sure of the rule.
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Is there anything in the 'advantage' rule about the non-offending team 'wasting' their advantage? I can see that if the advantage is played from a penalty offence then not much short of a score will be effective. However if, for example, the offence is a knock-on, the non-offending team gain clean possession behind the gain-line and then kick directly to the opposing full back is that sufficient? In other words can the advantage be lost by a non-offending teams own ineptitude?
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What is the law regarding tackling a player when both his feet are off the ground?
O'Driscoll (who should really know better after his Umaga incident) hit Olly Morgan as he caught the ball, with both Morgan's feet off the ground. I think England got the penalty (?) but O'Driscoll should have been sin binned to my mind.
About ten minutes later, Lund hit Girvan Dempsey in mid air - similar to O'Driscoll's hit but Dempsey fell more awkwardly - and O'Driscoll had the gall to demand Lund be yellow carded! Presumably in the interests of consistency, Lund was not carded.
What is the rule here?
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In almost all games i see players in the ruck who were not the tackled player presenting the ball to their scrum half through their legs or such. I don't understand, is this not handling in the ruck?
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can a ref awards a penalty then call time surely the penalty must be taken
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no you can do this if the player isn't binded on to an oponiont player
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Time for reflection on all borders of the northern hemisphere, if this is the best we got, then lets be afraid now. meanwhile could one of our esteemed referees explain why there is such a difference in the interpretaion of the laws from the top level against grass roots. Top level players could never put the ball in straight at scrummages, and the offside at ruck and mauls are simply ambandoned at the top level.
maybe our best referee should be reminded he is the sole\judge of law and fact, which includes the time, not the fourth official. absolute disgrace -- well done italy they deserved it
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Could you tell me why Wales always get a raw deal woth officials? Not refering to saturdays Chris White shambles but 5+ incidents happen every international to Wales, if you'd like me to name a few please ask (I can think back to Wales V France 6 nations last year when Shane Williams wrongly had a try disallowed for no reason by TMO to Wales V Ireland U20 match where winger Tom James was given to have a foot in touch yet was at least 2 metres away).
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Why can the TMO or the team officials not ask for an incident which should be penalised but isn't to be looked at during the half time break. EG the punch on Steven Jones by Bergamasco should have resulted in a red card, and no-doubt the result of the game would have been different.
If the TMO had seen the incident, as he must of, why can he not tell the ref at the time or at half time at the worst. Citing the player after the match has no effect on the game the transgression took place during.
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What happens when in a ruck the tackled player cannot release the ball because the tackling player has his hands and arms over the ball? Also, if the tackled player is physically incapable of rolling away, is there anything in the laws to account for this, or is heaping as much weight as possible onteh tackled player, stopping them from rolling away, the accepted way of doing things?
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ive only been playing rugby for a few weeks and i was wondering in a ruck if the scrum half and fly half are in it and cannot get to the ball should the person nearest to ir maybe a winger just try and get it out?
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if there is a ruck right by the side line should the left winger stay on his own or should he join the right winger where the ball is goin to come or should he stay on the left side??
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hey what do i have to do to get a red card with out a warning of a yellow card????!!!!!!!
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Following a try, can you explain how the referree determines where to locate the ball for the conversion attempt?
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why has france got a point when they lost
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why did France get a bonus point on Friday
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It's been bugging me for a while now, but why do some referees put their arm up after a line out? Not all ref's do it and the ref's that do, don't do it all the time - please help, it's driving me nuts!!!
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How is the bonus point provided in the world cup?
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Hi guys, I am reknown for asking daft questions so bear with me while this one is still fresh in my mind. When a player either starts the game or kicks off from the middle when the opposition has scored, I thought the ball must travel the required 10 yards or the ref brings them back to the middle for a scrum - however, i did notice in the SA vs Samoa game (World Cup 2007) that the Samoans were using the grubber ball tactic from kick off. The ball didn't pass the 10 yard line but the ref allowed play to continue. Why? Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you, Kevin.
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I was wondering if it is allowed to deliberatly head the ball ?
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If the player goes to catch the ball, but accidently knocks it foward, then the ball hits his knee, then the ground, is it classed as a knock on or a kick?
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at what age are you allowed to hand off in the face ?
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Any update on the proposed change of rules being tested in South Africa?
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During a game last week between saracens and glasgow richard haughton's try was allowed when he was clearly in touch when he grounded the ball
The tmo explained later that if the player doesnt carry the ball over the try line it doesnt matter wether he is in touch or not when he makes contact with the ball is this true or can you give a better explanation
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When a man is tackled and turned to present the ball towards their opposition. Scotland were penalised for NOT releasing the tackled player. If he had released the player he could have claimed eithier NOT held in the tackle or rolled over the ball in order to make it available to his own side following up. The law needs to be modified to allow the tackler to restrain the turned player, after all he is NOT trying to hold on to the ball or prevent play of the ball.
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Can you clarify the awarding of a penalty try for collapsing a scrum. I.E can this be awarded when the defending team collapses BEFORE the scrum half has put the ball in?
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During my sons game at the weekend his team kept losing the ball 'against the head'.what was happening was that the opposing hooker was puting his foot into the second row and dragging the ball back into his side .Is this legal?
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As I PE teacher, I am often required to referee U19 to U12 games. In a recent U16 game, a colleague awarded a penalty. The attacking team took the penalty kick from well away from the referee's mark on three seperate occasions and were permitted to take the penalty again. In my opinion, and in my interpretation of Law 21.2, the referee should have awarded a scrum to the opposing team. Am I correct?
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Dear Sir
We all know that Law 22.4 states the following:
Law 22.4 (g) Player in touch or touch-in-goal. If an attacking player is in touch or in touch-in-goal, the player can score a try by grounding the ball in the opponents鈥 in-goal provided the player is not
carrying the ball.
Can you also score a try by grounding when you are stood beyond the dead ball line?
The question is where is 鈥渢ouch in goal鈥 defined as, does it include the area beyond the dead ball line, or does it only include the area alongside the 鈥渢ouch in goal line鈥, i.e. down the side of the pitch.
The diagram accompanying Law 1 shows the area alongside the 鈥渢ouch in goal line鈥 as 鈥渢ouch in goal鈥, this is the area Law 22.4(g) says you can score from, but the diagram does not name the area beyond the dead ball line.
There appears to be a gap in the Law by not defining the area beyond the dead ball line, is this area even part of the playing enclosure?
Many thanks
P.Everitt
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