2004
iRB Rulings 3 - 7
Peter Watson, Chair of the
USARRA Laws Committee, recently received this package of iRB Rulings. He says there apparently has been a delay
somewhere in the distribution process (some are more than a month old), but
thankfully there is nothing in any of these that alters how the Laws have been
interpreted and applied in the US. He
has edited these Rulings so that all the questions and answers are grouped by
subject.
Law 3 –
Required Front-Row replacements/substitutes
The FFR has
requested a ruling with regard Law 3-Number of Players-The Team.
The following
situations occur in the below order in a match in which each Team had 22
players.
1. The hooker #2 gets injured. The replacement #16 replaces the
hooker. Do the scrums remain contestable?
2. The left prop #1 is injured or is sent off. The replacement #17
replaces the left prop. Do the scrums remain contestable?
3. The right prop #3 is injured or is sent off. There is no
replacement available to play in the front row. Do the scrums remain
contestable?
1. The hooker #1 gets injured. The replacement #16 replaces the
hooker. Do the scrums remain contestable?
2. The right prop #3 is injured or is sent off. The replacement #17
replaces the right prop. This player is suitably trained and experienced to
play in the right prop position and therefore scrums remain contestable. What
happens if the replacement #17 advises the referee he is only able to play left
prop?
1. The left prop #1 gets injured or is sent off. The replacement #17
replaces the left prop. Do the scrums remain contestable?
2. The prop #17 or #3 is injured or sent off. There are no other
suitably trained or experienced props available. Do the scrums remain contestable?
The Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the
question raised:
The answers to the abovementioned questions are:
Scenario
1
1. The
scrums remain contestable.
2. The
scrums remain contestable.
3. Uncontested scrums commence. (Note we have in accordance with Law a replacement hooker and a replacement prop.)
1. The
scrums remain contestable.
2. The team must by Law have had five players who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums. The referee has no choice but to have uncontested scrums. Law 3.14(a) states that it is not the responsibility of the referee to determine the suitability of trained front row replacements nor their availability, as this is a team responsibility.
1. The scrums remain contestable.
2. Uncontested
scrums commence. The Law requires the
team to be able to provide a replacement prop on the first occasion and this
has been complied with. The Law requires replacement hooker for replacement
hooker, replacement prop for either tight head or loose head. Ie. the
replacement prop or one of the starting props must be able to play both sides.
Law 15
– Tackle
The players
of Team A hold on to the ball carrier of Team B. The players from Team A drive the ball carrier towards the Team
B’s goal line (i.e. Team A players are going forward). After the ball carrier goes to the ground,
one of the players of Team A holding on to the ball carrier also goes to the
ground whilst the other player of Team A is still on his feet holding on to the
ball and the opposition’s arm. By
definition, a tackle occurs with the ball carrier being the tackled player and
the player of Team A on the ground being the tackler.
In this
situation:
1. Should the
Team A’s player still on his feet retire to the position behind the ball to
approach from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to his
goal-line ?
2. Should
that standing player in retiring to the position as aforementioned release the
ball in the tackled player’s hands?
3. Does the
tackled player have to release the ball immediately?
If the answer
to the 1 and 2 are yes, it may seem as though as far as the contest for the
ball is concerned, it would be advantageous to go to the ground.
Our view is
that the player on his feet in the above case should be allowed to continue to
play as he is involved in the tackle from the beginning of the tackle without
being defined as a tackler. It is not appropriate to define him as the other
player.
In order to
codify the spirit of the fair contestability of the ball in the Playing
Charter, the concept and definition of an “arriving player” should be
introduced to avoid such anomalous treatment of a player endeavoring to stay on
his feet.
The
Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the question raised:
The answers
to the abovementioned questions are:
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
To reconfirm
the position stated in Ruling 13:2003:
By
definition, any opponents of the tackled player who go to ground are known as
tacklers. Therefore a player on his feet is not a tackler as defined by Law.
A player on
his feet in the situation described is not a tackler as defined by Law. That
player is not part of the tackle, as he has not gone to ground. He can only
therefore be described as an ‘Other Player’ in Law 15.7 Other Players.
Specifically Law 15.7(c) would apply, where that player can only play the ball
if he approaches from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled
player or the tackler closest to those players’ goal-line.
Law
19.10 – Lineout (receiver entering)
Exception 2 –
The Receiver may run into the gap and perform any of the actions available to
any other player in the line-out. The receiver is liable to penalty for
offences in the line-out as would be other players in the line-out.
1. When can
the receiver enter the line-out to jump or support a team-mate? After formation
of the line-out and before the ball is thrown OR when the ball is thrown in.
i.e. when it leaves the throwers hands?
2. Can the
receiver change places with any other player in the line-out prior to the ball
being thrown in?
3. Can the
non-throwing team’s receiver enter the line-out to perform any action available
to other players independently of the throwing receiver entering the line-out?
I.e. does he have to wait for the throwing receiver to enter the line-out
before he can?
4. Similarly
does the receiver still have to receive the ball if he enters to jump for the
ball?
The Designated
Members have ruled the following in answer to the question raised:
The answers
to the abovementioned questions are:
1. The
receiver can enter the line-out when the ball leaves the throwers hands.
2. Yes. The
receiver can change places with any other player in the line-out prior to the
ball being thrown-in.
3. The
non-throwing teams receiver cannot enter the line-out unless the throwing in
team’s receiver has done so. If this occurred the non-throwing team would have
more players in the line-out, and would be subject to penalty. The non-throwing
receiver can only enter the line-out after the throwers receiver has done so.
This would not apply if the non-throwing team had fewer players in the
line-out, as there would not be a ‘numbers’ issue. The receiver can do anything
that other players can do in the line-out.
4. There is
no restriction on how close the receiver can stand to the line-out.
EDITORIAL
NOTE: THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY CONNECTION
BETWEEN QUESTION #4 AND ANSWER #4. I HAVE
MADE INQUIRIES, BUT AT PRESENT I DO NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION.
1. If the
receiver of the throwing team does not run into the gap, what are the options
of the non-throwing receiver? Can he run into the gap and perform any of the
actions available to any other player in the line-out without penalty?
2. If the
non-throwing team has fewer number in the line-out (5 v 4 and both teams have a
receiver in position), can the non-throwing team’s receiver join the line-out,
regardless of the actions of the throwing teams receiver?
The
Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the question raised:
The answers
to the abovementioned questions are:
1. No. Refer
to Ruling 4:2004, point 3.
2. Yes. Refer
to Ruling 4:2004, point 3.
The SRU
has requested a ruling with regard Law 19-Touch and Line-out
1. Ruling
4:2004 states that a receiver can only enter a line-out after the ball has left
the throwers hand. How can he support the jumper if the ball is already coming
into the line-out?
2. Ruling
4:2004 states that the receiver can change places with any player in the
line-out prior to the ball being thrown. This is contrary to 1. above, where
the receiver cannot move until the ball is thrown.
The
Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the question raised:
1. After the
line-out commences the receiver can enter the line-out, and is free to do that
which is normally done by players in the line-out. The receiver’s ability to
support the jumper is not an issue in Law.
2. Prior to
the commencement of the line-out, participating players may change places. The
participating players in a line-out are those that line up in the line-out, the
thrower and his immediate opponent, and the two players waiting to receive the
ball from the line-out. Who the
“receiver” actually is, cannot finally be determined until the very moment that
the ball is thrown in. Until that time the players standing in the normal #9
positions are merely participants and they can change their positions at any
time until the ball is thrown.