Ruling 2: 2010

100311 SG IRB Ruling 2, 2010
To: Secretaries / CEOs of Unions and Regional Associations in Membership
From: David Carrigy, Head of External & Member Relations
Subject: Law Ruling by Designated Members of Rugby Committee
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
100309 SG IRB Ruling 1 2010 Page 2 of 2
• 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 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

Ruling 1: 2010

100309 SG IRB Ruling 1, 2010
To: Secretaries / CEOs of Unions and Regional Associations in Membership
From: David Carrigy, Head of External & Member Relations
Subject: Law Ruling by Designated Members of Rugby Committee
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.
100309 SG IRB Ruling 1 2010 Page 2 of 3
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.
100309 SG IRB Ruling 1 2010 Page 3 of 3
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

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

Referees – how to setup Google Calendar

For the 2009 Fall season we will be using the Google Calendar integrated into the TRU Website.

Availability requests will be mailed out at least one month in advance and will show up in your email or Google Calendar.  Don’t have Google calendar, click below for a quick tutorial of how to get it.
How to set up Google Calendar – Video

Please respond to the availability request in a timely manner.  If no response is received, you will receive future emails reminding you and requesting that you update your availability.

How to respond to Availability and Match Requests – Video

Match Assignments will be made based on the positive response to the availability requests.
Match assignments will also come through as “Meeting Requests” through Google Calendar and you will respond “Yes” or “No” in order to confirm the match with the assignors.

If you have any questions, please contact Greg Varnell at gvarnell[at]gmail.com

TOLA Finals

The TOLA series capped off it’s finals at the Shreveport-Horseshoe TOLA 7s Aug. 8-9, 2009.  Host club Shreveport won in overtime against a well-coached Little Rock Club.  National women 7s coached, Julie McCoy had her boys playing great rugby but Hal Struckman and his Shreveport gang stood tall at the end and came away with the victory.

Greg Varnell was in the middle with Wendy Young and Rich Prim assisting on the touch.  Mr. Varnell did an excellent job.  We had a good crew of match officials during the weekend; from the very new to the very, very old.  Match officials included  Chris Kelly, Traci Schmidtke, Wendy Young, Greg Varnell, Rich Prim and visiting referee from the deep south, Chris Piscotta.

Congrats to a strong referee crew and kudos to a great job the Shreveport team provided as host on this very hot Aug. day.

2009 TOLA Shreveport referees
2009 TOLA Shreveport referees

Match officials included in photo above from l to r:  Chris Kelly, Traci Schmidtke, Wendy Young, Greg Varnell, and Rich Prim.
Our visiting referee from the deep south, Chris Piscotta, was not available for the picture.