Law Rulings 2005
RULING 4: 2005
Law Ruling by Designated Members of
Laws Committee
15 August 2005
The ARU has requested
a ruling with regard Law 3-Number of Players
Scenario 1
A front row player
(No. 3) is temporary suspended. At the next scrum player No. 6 leaves the field
to allow a replacement front row player (No. 17) to take the field. During the
time of the temporary suspension, player No. 7 leaves the field (blood, or
injury). Can player No. 6 replace player No. 7 at this time or must he remain
off the field until the temporary suspension period for player No. 3 ends?
Scenario 2
A front row player
(No. 3) is temporary suspended. At the next scrum player No. 6 leaves the field
to allow a replacement front row player (No. 17) to take the field. Player No.
17 is temporarily suspended (during the period of temporary suspension for
player No. 3). At the next scrum player No. 7 leaves the field to allow a
replacement front row player (No. 18) to take the field.
When can players No. 3 and 6 return to the field; at the end of the
temporary suspension for player No. 3 or must they remain off the field until
the temporary suspension period for player No. 17 ends?
Is there any
difference if the team does not have any further front row replacements (for
No. 17)?
The Designated
Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:
Rulings
Ruling 1
Player No. 6 can
return to the field of play before the temporary suspension period for player
No. 3 ends, providing the team has only 14 players on the field.
Ruling 2
Player No. 6 can return to the field of play at the end of the temporary suspension of player No. 3. Player No. 17 cannot return to the field of play until his/her temporary suspension has ended. The temporary suspensions of players 3 and 17 are not linked but are separate temporary suspensions. If Player No. 3 is temporarily suspended and player No. 17 replaces him, and is temporarily suspended during the period of player No. 3’s temporary suspension, and the team has no further suitable replacements, then there will be uncontested scrums until player No. 3 returns to the field of play.
RULING 3: 2005
Law Ruling by Designated Members of
30th June 2005
The FPR has requested
a ruling with regard Law 21-Penalty & Free Kicks
Black team are penalised for a tackle infringement 30 metres
from their goal line.; Blue team opt for a kick at
goal, placing the ball on the mark and informing the referee as to this
intention. Black team gather behind their goal posts.
Blue team kicks (chips) the ball forward a few metres
from the mark, allowing for an on-side team member to gather the ball and run
unhindered across the goal line to score a try.
1. Law 21.5(b) states
that ‘If the kicker indicates to the referee the intention to kick at goal, the
kicker must kick at goal. Once the kicker has made the intention clear, there
can be no change of the intention. The referee may enquire of the kicker as to
the intention.’ Does this mean that the abovementioned scenario is illegal, and
if so how would the referee restart the match? Can the interpretation of Law
21.5(b) be that once the kicker has made his intention to kick at goal clear,
he may not then change his intention by then kicking to touch, taking a tap
kick and passing or running with the ball himself? If this is correct then the
abovementioned situation is legal and the referee should award a try.
The Designated
Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:
Rulings
The abovementioned scenario is illegal, and the referee would order a scrum at the place of the original penalty, with the put in to the black team.
RULING 2: 2005
Law Ruling by Designated Members of Laws Committee
April 2005
The FFR has requested
a ruling with regard Law 6-Match Officials
Law 6 A.12 stipulates
for “a ball in the in-goal touched by a non player”. In such situation, the
referee considers what would have had occurred after this incident and will
blow for a try or a touch in goal where the ball would have been grounded.
However, nothing is
stipulated in the event of a person who is not a player touching the ball,
intentionally or not, in the field of play or hinders the ball carrier or any
other player who is in the position to intervene in the play. Would you please
rule on the following scenarios.
1. A person from the
technical staff (coach, physio, doctor, water
carrier) unintentionally touches the ball or unintentionally hinders the ball
carrier or a player in a position to play the ball.
2. A person from the
technical staff (coach, physio, doctor, water
carrier) intentionally touches the ball or intentionally hinders the ball
carrier or a player in a position to play the ball.
3. An exterior
element (spectator) unintentionally or intentionally touches the ball or
unintentionally or intentionally hinders the ball carrier or a player in a
position to play the ball.
4. An exterior
element (animal) touches the ball or hinders the ball carrier or a player in a
position to play the ball.
The Designated
Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:
Rulings
1. The referee shall
judge what would have happened next. If either team gain
an advantage, play will be brought back for a scrum with the team in possession
at the time of the event to have the throw-in.
2. The above scenario
in 1. is applied whether it was intentional or
unintentional.
3. The referee shall
judge what would have happened next. If either team gain
an advantage, play will be brought back for a scrum with the team in possession
at the time of the event to have the throw-in.
4. The above scenario in 3. is applied.
RULING 1: 2004
Law Ruling by Designated Members of Laws Committee
April 2005
The IRFU has
requested a ruling with regard Law 16-Ruck
1. To paraphrase the
definition, it basically states that rucking can occur as long as players are
not in contravention of Law 10 Foul Play. In 16.3(f) it states that 'a player
rucking for the ball must not ruck players on the ground'. It also states that
'a player must not intentionally step on players who are on the ground, and
that 'a player rucking must do so near the ball'.
Is this then taken to
mean that there are no exceptions or qualifications to the Law, and that
rucking which is directed at a player to remove him as an obstruction or
impediment to securing possession of the ball is illegal?
2. Can the Law also
be taken to mean that so called 'mountain climbing' where a player is using his
boots to climb on a players back/body, is illegal?
3.Can the Law also be
taken to mean that rucking can only occur when a player is in a ruck and bound
correctly {Law 16.2(b)} and that any player not caught in or bound in the ruck
cannot be rucking for the ball and is therefore liable to penalty for Dangerous
Play and Misconduct under Law 10.4(b) and/or (c) and/or 10.4(k).
4. Additionally,
would inadvertent or unintentional contact with players in a ruck as an
incident of legitimate rucking for the football (reckless and patently
dangerous rucking apart) be considered legal and
within the Laws of the Game?
The Designated
Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:
Rulings
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes