New Laws
RUGBY TECHNICAL FOCUS AREAS 2010 The review process from 2009 brought out 4 major priorities, for all coaches, players and referees to buy into, in order to help create some fundamental change to the game on the field. It will be a real responsibility on our referees to implement these key priorities. Their execution will be a real focus for the 2010 season. In a simple format, here are the "Big 4 Priorities" clearly articulated, with the actions and outcomes. PRIORITY ONE: The TACKLER, once hitting the ground in the tackle, MUST RELEASE the ball and the ball carrier. OUTCOME: create more opportunity for ball availability and to make it more real for arriving players to "clean out the threat". Referees are to give more penalties against the TACKLER, who is seen as our biggest problem at the tackle. PRIORITY TWO: OUTCOME: create a cleaner, more compliant phase of the game, better ball, and less time spent on watching scrums reset! This area was a big blight on our feedback, from 2009! Create a more "fair and equitable contest" on the hit, by creating better symmetry on the engagement call. PRIORITY THREE: OUTCOME: improve the time and space for players to counter attack, when receiving kicks in general play...ultimately reduce the aerial ping pong people see today. Create room for players to counter attack, and therefore provide more options. PRIORITY FOUR: OUTCOME: improved phase play: more defendable mauls, now that you cannot collapse a maul. This area is directly linked to the lineout, where the phase is more ‘structured', due to a change back to the "old Law".
NEW LAW
2010
•1. 10 OF THE 13 EXPERIMENTAL LAW VARIATIONS TRIALED IN 2009.
- Assistant Referees
Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner as requested by the referee, when appointed by a match organiser.
- Posts and flags around the field
The corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post. Should the ball hit the corner post and bounce away, whatever happens next will apply - play-on, ball out, ball going touch-in-goal,
- Lineout and throw
- 1. If a team puts the ball back into their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain of ground.
- 2. A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's own goal line.
- 3. Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in (from under 14).
- 4. The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted (from under 14).
- 5. The receiver in a lineout must stand at least two metres back from the lineout. Non-compliance = FK. The non-throwing receiver can only enter the lineout if the throwing receiver does.
- 6. The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand and remain in the area between the five metre line and touch line but must be two metres away from the lineout until the ball is thrown in. Non-compliance = FK.
- 7. The throwing team will again determine the maximum number of participants in the lineout. The non-throwing team must equal or have fewer participants (but no less than 2). Non compliance = FK.
- Scrum
- 8. The non-participants offside line for both teams is five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum. Non compliance = PK.
- 9. The non-feeding halfback must either set up along the 5m offside line, or at the centre of the scrum on the feeding side. Once the ball is fed, the halfback of the team who has not won the ball may;
- a) follow the ball;
- b) move to the offside line at the hindmost foot;
- c) move back to the 5m offside line.
This player may move away from the scrum at the hindmost foot, but must not overstep that offside line until the scrum has ended. In order to move away, that halfback must have started at the centre of the scrum and moved back to that hindmost foot offside line following the feeding of the ball. Non compliance - PK. (DSLV laws still apply).
- Maul
Players are NOT able to defend a maul by pulling it down. Sanction = PK.
The head and shoulders of arriving players must be higher than their hips.
•2. TACKLE.
The first arriving player to the tackle who is able to grasp the ball prior to a ruck forming does not have to surrender the ball should a ruck form on them. This player still needs to enter the breakdown area legally and remain on their feet at all times.
Experimental Law Variations
• Following the International Rugby Board Council decision in May 2008 on a global trial of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), please find below an outline of how the ELVs will be implemented in New Zealand's club rugby competitions in 2009.
• The application of these laws in NZ club rugby will commence on 1 January 2009 for all levels of rugby and will continue to be played for the duration of each competition.
• The trial will involve 13 ELVs that have been undergoing experimentation in approved tournaments around the world over the last two years. A final decision as to what variations will become law is expected to be made in May 2009.
Assistant Referees
• Assistant Referees can assist referees in any manner as requested by the referee, when appointed by a match organiser.
Posts and flags around the field
• The corner posts are no longer considered to be touch in-goal except when a ball is grounded against the post. Should the ball hit the corner post and bounce away, whatever happens next will apply - play-on, ball out, ball going touch-in-goal,
Lineout and throw
• If a team puts the ball back into their own 22 and the ball is subsequently kicked directly into touch there is no gain of ground.
• A quick throw may be thrown in straight or towards the throwing team's own goal line.
• Lineout players may pre-grip a jumper before the ball is thrown in (from under 14).
• The lifting of lineout jumpers is permitted (from under 14).
• There is no restriction on the number of players from either team who can participate in the lineout (minimum of two) - Excess non-throwing numbers is no longer an issue.
• The receiver in a lineout must stand at least two metres back from the lineout. Non-compliance = FK. The non-throwing receiver can only enter the lineout if the throwing receiver does.
• The player who is in opposition to the player throwing in the ball must stand and remain in the area between the five metre line and touch line but must be two metres away from the lineout until the ball is thrown in. Non-compliance = FK.
Scrum
• The non-participants offside line for both teams is five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum. Non compliance = PK.
• The non-feeding halfback must either set up along the 5m offside line, or at the centre of the scrum (feeding side). Once the ball is fed, the halfback of the team who has not won the ball may follow the ball, move to the offside line at the hindmost foot, or back to the 5m offside line. This player may move away from the scrum at the hindmost foot, but must not overstep that offside line. In order to move away, that halfback must have started at the centre of the scrum and moved back to that hindmost foot offside line following the feeding of the ball. Non compliance - PK. (DSLV laws still apply).
Maul
• Players are able to defend a maul by pulling it down, providing that a player does so by pulling an opponent in the maul down from the shoulders to the hips. Non compliance = PK.
• The head and shoulders of arriving players can now be lower than their hips.
DSLV
For all grades from under 19 down, the following DSLV provisions will apply:
• Players will NOT be permitted to pull down a maul - the only player permitted to intentionally go to ground in a maul, will be the ball carrier in order to make the ball available - current sanctions will apply (PK).
• The head and shoulders of arriving players must be no lower than their hips - current sanctions will apply (FK).
SUPER 14
• The iRB has also decided that three additional ELVs trialled in the 2008 Rebel Sport Super 14, while not part of the overall global trial, can still be trialled by SANZAR Unions in that competition. The 3 additional ELVs are:
Tackle and Ruck
• If the ball becomes unplayable at the tackle or ruck, the team not in possession is awarded a free kick. The first priority will remain with the tackler who must move away to allow the ball to be played. If they do not, the free-kick will be awarded against that player first. Illegal entries and off-sides will still be sanctioned by way of a penalty kick.
Maul - If the ball becomes unplayable at the maul, a free kick is awarded to the team not in possession.
Sanctions - For all offences other than offside and Law 10 Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.
IRB Confirms Tackle and Ruck to be Refereed According to Law
The IRB today confirmed that, following agreement at the annual Council meeting in May, a Laws protocol letter was sent to all Member Unions stating that match officials at all levels of the Game must referee the Tackle (Law 15) and Ruck (Law 16) in accordance with the written Laws.
The correspondence also addressed new protocols in other areas of Law and was accompanied with a DVD that further confirmed the requirements of Council.
All Unions were asked to ensure that the protocols were brought to the attention of national coaches, referee managers and IRB panel referees. The protocols apply to all international matches from June 1, 2008.
Law 15 - Tackle
It has become evident that players are going to ground over or on ball carriers which has become known as sealing off. On some occasions they remain in that position and fail to move away contravening Law. Furthermore players are going to ground or on top of players after a tackle thereby ensuring that the opposition cannot contest possession. Such actions are in breech of Laws 15.6 (g), 15.7 (c) and 15.7 (d).
Referees are requested to be more vigilant in this area of the Game and to ensure that both teams are treated equally at the breakdown.
Law 16 - Ruck
It has become common practice for players to move the ball from rucks using their hands and to pick the ball up in a ruck to form a maul. It is also evident that players of the ball carrying team are being allowed to handle the ball in the ruck when defenders are being told to leave the ball alone.
Law 16.4 (d) is to be refereed at all times and applied to both the attacking and defending teams.
Law 20 - Scrum Throw In
The IRB Laws Project Group (LPG) Scrum Working Party confirmed to Council the continual non compliance of scrum halves to feed the ball into the centre of the tunnel. Such action is in breech of Law 20.6 (d).
Council endorsed a protocol whereby from June 1, 2008 onwards at the awarding of each scrum and prior to having the front rows go through the engagement procedure the referee is to remind the scrum half of his obligations and then ensure that he is positioned in the middle and standing square to the scrum prior to the feed.
Law 4 - Players' Clothing
The Law in relation to inspection of players' clothing is covered in Law 4.5 (a), (b) and (c). Regulation 12 governs what is and what is not allowed to be worn by players.
Council endorsed the following protocol:
For all internationals from June 1, 2008 the practice of checking players clothing in the dressing rooms at the time of the stud check will continue. Furthermore the two assistant referees will then carry out another inspection of players clothing as the team assembles in the tunnel prior to going onto the field.
Any subsequent breech of Regulation 12 once the match commences will be dealt with under Law 4.5 (c) and the offending player will be ordered from the field.
EXPERIMENTAL LAW VARIATIONS AND COMMENTARY
Flag Judges (FJs)
1. To distinguish the new role of the touch judges, they have been renamed flag judges. FJs can indicate offside at the tackle by raising their flag horizontally in the direction of the offending team. This flag raising will be mirrored by the opposite FJ so as to provide visual assistance to the referee. The referee however is not obliged to act on the offence.
Posts and flags around the field
2. Corner post, and post at corner of touch in goal and dead ball line are moved back 2 metres. This ensures consistency of touch along the entire length of the touch line and touch in goal line.
Inside the 22 metre line
3. When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22 metre line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22, the following can occur.
a. If the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is in line with where the ball was kicked.
b. If a tackle, ruck or maul is subsequently formed and the ball is then kicked directly into touch, the lineout is where the ball crossed the touch line.
4. On a quick throw in, the ball can be thrown straight or backwards towards the defenders goal line, but not forward towards the opposition goal line.
5. A player peeling off at the front of the lineout can do so as soon as the ball leaves the throwers hands.
6. The receiver in a lineout must stand 2 metres from the lineout.
7. The non throwing hooker does not have to stand between the 5 metre line and the touch line. They must conform to law wherever they stand.
8. There is no maximum number of players in the lineout but there is a minimum of 2.
9. Neither team determines numbers in the lineout.
10. Pre-gripping is allowed.
11. If a lineout throw is not straight, the option is a lineout or free kick (FK) to non throwing team. Breakdown (tackle/post tackle)
12. Players entering the breakdown area must do so through the gate.
13. Immediately the tackle occurs there are offside lines.
14. The offside lines run parallel to the goal lines through the hindmost part of the hindmost player at the tackle.
15. A tackled player must immediately play the ball and may not be prevented from playing the ball by any player who is off their feet.
16. Any other player playing the ball at the breakdown must be on their feet.
17. If the ball is unplayable at the breakdown, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a FK.
18. If the ball is received directly from a kick and a tackle occurs immediately, and the ball becomes unplayable, the FK is given to the team who received the kick.
19. There are only 3 penalty offences (not including dangerous play) at the breakdown.
a. Offside for not coming through the gate.
b. Offside where defenders are in front of the last man on their side of the breakdown. i.e. the offside line
c. A tackled player must immediately play the ball and may not be prevented from playing the ball by any player who is off their feet
20. Repeated infringements can be dealt with as per current law.
21. All FKs are tap kicks including a mark and a scrum option is available for all FKs.
22. Dangerous play will not be tolerated. Eg. Diving over the breakdown.
23. The half back should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.
Maul
24. Defending players can pull down the maul.
25. Players joining the maul must do so through the gate.
26. If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a FK.
27. The ‘truck and trailer’ is no longer an offence.
Scrum
28. The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the teams scrum half, is 5 metres behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.
Sanctions
26. For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-Foul Play, the sanction is a FK.
