Laws and Rulings

Posted by IRB Laws on November 24th, 2011

Clubs and Referee’s:

Please read the update (posted on the West Rugby Union website) from the IRB regarding Breakdowns, Scrum, Offsides and Foul Play.

110601 PO Key Areas Memo [DOWNLOAD]

Posted by IRB Laws on August 8th, 2011

Amended Memorandum

TO:  Referees, Citing Commissioners, Judicial Officers, Non legal Judicial Committee Members

 

Samoa centre Brian Lima was banned for three weeks following this dangerous tackle on England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson

FROM:  Paddy O’Brien, IRB Referee Manager, and Tim Gresson, IRB Judicial Panel Chairman

DATE:  4 August 2011

SUBJECT: (i) DANGEROUS TACKLES (HIGH TACKLES) and
(ii) DANGEROUS GRASPING OF NECK AND/OR HEAD AREA OF PLAYER NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL

NOTE: THIS MEMORANDUM REPLACES THE MEMORANDUM OF 21 JANUARY 2011 RELATING TO DANGEROUS TACKLES (HIGH TACKLES)

This is a further memorandum in relation to Dangerous Tackles and the illegal taking out of players who are not in possession of the ball.

Law 10.4(e) in relation to Dangerous Tackles provides as follows:

A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.  A tackle around the opponent’s neck or head is dangerous play.

A stiff-arm tackle is dangerous play.  A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff-arm to strike an opponent.

Playing a player without the ball is dangerous play.

A player must not tackle an opponent whose feet are off the ground.

High Tackles:

At an IRB Medical Seminar held in November 2010 at Lensbury the results of studies by the Rugby Football Union and New Zealand Rugby Football Union concluded that most injuries in Rugby in the elite Game are now occurring as a result of high tackles.  The participants generally recognised that tackles above the line of the shoulders have the potential to cause serious injury and noted that a trend had emerged whereby players responsible for such tackles were not being adequately sanctioned.trend had emerged whereby players responsible for such tackles were not being adequately sanctioned.trend had emerged whereby players responsible for such tackles were not being adequately sanctioned.

Dangerous Grasping:

A further trend has recently emerged in the Game whereby players not in possession of the ball are being grasped and/or grabbed by an opponent in and around the neck and/or head area, principally in an effort to clear out players from the breakdown.  While such behaviour does not come under the definition of a tackle, as no ball carrier is involved nevertheless, it is dangerous play under Law 10.4(e) and/or Law 10.4(f) (playing an opponent without the ball).

The purpose of this revised Memorandum is to emphasise that as with tip tackles, (see Memorandum of 8 June 2009) this type of dangerous play must be dealt with severely by Referees and all those involved in the off-field disciplinary process. As with other types of Illegal and/or Foul Play, depending on the circumstances of the high tackle or the illegal and dangerous taking out of players not in possession of the ball, the range of sanctions can extend from a penalty kick to the player receiving a red card.

An illegal high tackle to the head and/or neck area of the opponent (in particular involving a ‘stiff arm’ or swinging arm), bears all the hallmarks of an action which should result in a yellow card or a red card being seriously considered.

The grasping and twisting of the neck and/or head area of a player to effect either a tackle or to clear out a player not in possession of the ball should also be regarded as constituting serious Illegal and/or Foul Play and Match Officials and Judicial Personnel have a responsibility to ensure that the appropriate action is taken by them.

Referees and Citing Commissioners should not make their decisions based on what they consider was the intention of the offending player.  Their decision should be based on an objective assessment (as per Law 10.4(e) and Law 10.4(f)) of the overall circumstances of the tackle or the clear out.

Paddy O’Brien
Tim Gresson

110804 Memo Dangerous Tackles – August 2011 [DOWNLOAD]

Breakdown

All areas of the tackle law need to be strictly enforced.

Tackler(s)

•Must roll away immediately.

•Assist tacklers who do not go to ground must release the tackled player prior to attempting to win the ball.

Tackled Player(s)

• Must release the ball after being tackled

Arriving player(s)

• Must enter through the gate (both the attackers and the defenders)• Must remain on their feet when attempting to win ball

• Players going off their feet unintentionally must immediately roll away

•Players deliberately going to ground must be penalized

•A trend has developed where players are clearing out ahead of the ball and then intentionally holding the cleared out player preventing him from defending.

Referees and ARs are asked to be particularly vigilant in this area of the game.

If at a tackle situation a clear and obvious Maul develops the Referee should call ‘Maul’ and referee this phase accordingly. Once he has called maul neither team may deliberately collapse the maul. If however the Maul goes to ground and the Referee is undecided regarding which team caused it to go to ground, he should whistle a turnover if the ball isn’t immediately available from the collapse.

Scrum

• 4 clear and precise calls each followed by 4 clear actions.

• Zero tolerance to early engagement and failing to engage on referees call.

• Loose heads to be hitting up and tight heads to be square on engagement.

• Binding of props to be on body not on arms.

• Loose heads who end up putting a hand on the ground to prevent a collapse at engagement occasionally may be able to rebind. This should be an exception rather than a norm and a loose head who continually puts a hand on ground needs to be sanctioned.

Offsides

Referees and Assistant Referees need to be strict on applying the offside law to both teams at the breakdown. Players close in at the breakdown must be policed strictly to ensure that they remain onside to allow the ball winning team the legal space they are entitled too.

Offsides both in general play and from kicks where offside players are within ten metres of the receiver are to be strictly enforced. MaulPlayers supporting the ball winner at kickoffs and lineouts must do so from alongside or behind the ball winner. Players doing so from in front of the ball winner are to be penalised for obstruction.Both the ball carrying side and the defenders are to be refereed equally at the Maul. A player who is caught up in the Maul and makes his way through the middle of the formation is not obliged to leave the Maul.

Foul Play

Referees are reminded of recent circulars from the IRB regarding actions to be taken for Dangerous tackles including the lifting tackle where a player is not brought to the ground safely and tackles around the head/neck region.

A trend is also developing across all competitions where cleanouts at the breakdown involving a player being grabbed around the neck/head region and his neck/head being twisted as part of the clearout. This trend needs to be stopped immediately as it is extremely dangerous play.

Match Officials are to make Foul play a player issue not a Match Official issue.

Fresh off the presses, here are the 2011 USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines here.

This is a further memorandum in relation to Dangerous Tackles.

The specific provisions of Law 10.4(e) in relation to High Tackles are as follows:

A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponent’s neck or head is dangerous play.

A stiff-arm tackle is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff-arm to strike an opponent.

At an IRB Medical Conference held in November 2010 at Lensbury the results of studies related to injuries sustained as a result of tackles were outlined. A study in England concluded that “stricter implementation of the Laws of Rugby relating to collisions and tackles above the line of the shoulder may reduce the number of head/neck injuries”. A separate study in New Zealand concluded that “ball carriers were at highest risk from tackles to the head and neck region”.

The participants at the Medical Conference generally recognized that tackles above the line of the shoulders have the potential to cause serious injury and noted that a trend had emerged whereby players responsible for such tackles were not being suitably sanctioned.

The purpose of this Memorandum is to emphasise that as with tip tackles, they must be dealt with severely by Referees and all those involved in the off-field disciplinary process.

It is recognized of course, as with other types of illegal and/or foul play, depending on the circumstances of the high tackle, the range of sanctions extends from a penalty kick to the player receiving a red card. An illegal high tackle involving a stiff arm or swinging arm to the head of the opponent, with no regard to the player’s safety, bears all the hallmarks of an action which should result in a Red Card or a Yellow Card being seriously considered.

Referees and Citing Commissioners should not make their decisions based on what they consider was the intention of the offending player. Their decision should be based on an objective assessment (as per Law 10.4(e)) of the overall circumstances of the tackle.

110121_IRB_Memorandum_re_Dangerous_Tackles_(High_Tackles) [DOWNLOAD]

Date: March 11, 2010
Ruling: 2: 2010
Request from the WRU

The WRU request a Ruling related to time at the end of a match:

The request for a Ruling arises from the ending of two recent international matches and is in relation to the way a restart takes place following the referee’s communication that it is to be the “last play” of the match.

If the ball is kicked directly out on the full from the restart it should be left to the referee’s discretion to decide whether:

• (a) If Law 10.2 (a) Intentionally Offending has occurred
• (b) If Law 13.8 Kick offs/ Restarts has been fully complied with.

Observation:

The Laws relating to Kick Offs/Restarts for 15-a-side matches would benefit immensely from the variation to Law 13.7, 13.8 and 13.9 currently operating for seven-a-side rugby, which are quite specific, in that, it is a free kick to the nonoffending team should a team infringe the above.

Ruling of the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

The Designated Members have ruled that if there has been a score towards the end of the game and there is time for the kick off to take place but time will expire immediately after the kick and the kicker:

• Does not kick the ball ten metres
• Kicks the ball directly into touch
• Kicks the ball dead on or over the opponents touch-in-goal or dead ball line

The referee will offer the non-offending team the options provided by Law 13.7, 13.8 and 13.9 respectively and the match continues until the ball next becomes dead.

Yours sincerely,
David Carrigy
Head of External & Member Relations

Date: March 10, 2010
Ruling: 1: 2010
Request from the IRFU

The IRFU request a Ruling related to Law 15.6 (c) as follows:
“Law 15.6(c) was introduced in 2009, and the stated purpose was to write into Law Ruling No. 13 of 2003, and Nos. 3 and 8 of 2004.  We are of the firm opinion that 15.6(c) does not reflect accurately these Rulings:

• The Rulings clearly deal with an opponent of a tackled player, who remains on his feet, and is on the tackled player’s side of the tackle. This player must release and re-enter from his own side.
• This is the only requirement within these Rulings in relation to a player on his feet who is an opponent of the tackled player.
• The Rulings also state that players can play the ball if they have come from their own side, and are on their feet. There is no requirement within the Rulings for a player, who has always been on his side of the tackle, to release the ball.
• As written 15.6(c) is inclusive of all players on their feet, and this does not meet the objective of the Rulings.

Furthermore, Law 15.6(c) is anomalous and in contradiction with several other sections within the totality of Law 15 – particularly 15.5(b) and 15.6(b).  We ask the Designated Members to consider the above observations and to determine if a re-write (or clarification) of 15.6(c) is necessary so it reflects correctly and accurately the Rulings No. 13 of 2003, and Nos. 3 and 8 of 2004, and to remove the current anomaly in Law.

In view of the recent focus and discussions in relation to this Law, we would also ask that this request is treated with the utmost urgency.”

Ruling of the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

In the Designated Members opinion the Law amendment, Law 15 6 (c) reflects the Rulings 13 – 2008, 3 and 8 2004. In order to clarify the situation the Designated Members’ comments are included below.

A player who is brought to the ground when carrying the ball is a tackled player.  (Definition)
A player who goes to ground when tackling a player is known as a tackler. (Definition)
A player who brings a player to ground who is carrying the ball is not a tackler (Definition), however, this player has completed a tackle.

A tackler must release the tackled player (Law15.4 (a)).
The tackled player must pass or release the ball (Law 15.5(b)).
The tackled player may release the ball by putting the ball on the ground in any direction (Law15.5 (c)).
The tackled player may release the ball by pushing the ball along the ground (Law15.5 (d)).
However, if opposition players who are on their feet attempt to play the ball, the tackled player must release the ball (Law15.5 (e)).

Players arriving at a tackle may play the ball providing they are on their feet (Law15.6 (b)).
Players who were attached to the player who is tackled and who remain on their feet must release the player and the ball (Law15.6 (c)) and then may play the ball in accordance with Law15.6 (b).

Law Ruling 8 of 2004 stated that the players who are not tacklers are covered by Law 15.7(c) (2008 Law) and those players can only play the ball if they approach from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players’ goal-line.

To approach behind the tackled player means the tackle has taken place and the revised Law 15.6 (c) (2009) makes that very clear.

Law 15.6 (c) as written reflected the views of the Designated Members in 2004 and now, Law 15.6 (c) is part of the Law amendments circulated to all Unions in 2009 and was accepted by the Rugby Committee and Council.

Yours sincerely,
David Carrigy
Head of External & Member Relations