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Law Updates and Guidance

References to Laws Updates & Law Knowledge

 

We post to our Facebook page interesting articles, so check there for links!  Click here for SWRRS Facebook page.

And always  refer to World Rugby's Laws Of The Game website.

USA RUGBY REFEREE RESOURCEs

 

USA Rugby has a section of resources for referees that is useful for referees and clubs alike.  Info like the links to the Game Mgmt Guidelines, the current rules around what protective equipment is allowed to be worn, and various forms.

Click here for USA Rugby Referee Resources page.

2023 Updates

March 2023 - Head Contact Process Update

Refer to World Rugby clarifications on the assessment process:

https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/guidelines/26

 

Jan 2023 SWRRS Laws Discussion

  • Using Refup
  • 2022 Global Law trials enacted into Law
  • 2023 Shape of The Game Updates
January 2023 - Law Application Guideline Update

 

Outcomes from the Shape of the Game conference in Nov 2022 looked at ways of speeding up the game, reducing unnecessary stoppages and ensuring a safe spectacle was created for players, match officials and spectators alike.

Speeding Up The Game

More of an issue at elite level.

Water Carriers

Are allowed on the field when tries are scored.  No formal water break (hot weather excluded).

Negative Player Action

Referees will be asked to be strong on negative player actions. For example, trapping players into ruck, and first arriving players (the jackler) not aiming to play the ball.

Players are reminded about their responsibilities not to hold the ball or walk off with the ball at penalties – this reduces attacking options by the non-offending team and slows the game down unnecessarily and will be sanctioned.

Players on the ground

Players who put their hands on the floor at tackles, rucks and mauls are subject to sanction, although judgement can be used if the player is using the ground briefly to maintain their own balance and stability.

Relevant Law:

  • Off feet: Players are off their feet when any other part of the body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
  • On feet: Players are on their feet if no other part of their body is supported by the ground or players on the ground.
  • Tackle law 14.8a: Other players must: Remain on their feet and release the ball and the ball-carrier immediately, and 14.8b Remain on their feet when they play the ball.
  • Ruck law 15.12: Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck.
  • Maul law 16.9: All other players in a maul must endeavour to stay on their feet.

Deliberate Knock-On

Players must endeavour to catch the ball. Referees are asked to show good judgement when deciding if a player has a reasonable expectation of catching and gaining possession, and then in determining a sanction. There is no formula for determining a Yellow Card sanction in these situations (15s is treated differently to 7s).

 



2022 Updates

GLOBAL LAW TRIALS in effect from July 1, 2022

 

1.  Brake foot for hookers.

  • Hookers will be required to have one foot forward as the scrum sets up (19.10c), which acts as a brake on the scrum until the call of ‘Set’ in the engagement sequence (19.12).   

  • The goal is to remove axial loading on the necks and heads of front row players.

2.  Restrictions on on-field presence of water carriers and medics.

  • Water carriers must stay in the technical zones when not required to be on the field.  Players can access water in their technical zone any time they want, or from behind the dead ball line after a try has been scored.

World Rugby publication of Global Law Trials plus Law Updates.

July 2022:  Re-emphasis on penalizing side entry to the breakdown

Arriving player priorities:

  • Detailed first in March 2020 - Refereeing The Breakdown, and refer to Laws 14.6, 14.8c, 15.5, 15.6, 15.16b.
  • Square up - The attacking support player must enter the tackle zone relatively square facing toward the opposition goal line.
  • Direction of goal line - An attacking support player must arrive from the direction of their own goal line.
  • Angle in - An attacking support player who does the above, can only then angle in to clean out an opponent.
  • Drive not dive - Arriving players must ‘Drive not dive’ to clear out an opponent. Shorten steps and bind, not dive off feet.
  • Cannot seal off - Attacking support players cannot come off their feet to seal off the contest.
  • No diving on tackler - Arriving play cannot dive upon the tackler. They also cannot tackle players who are not near the ball or take players too far beyond the breakdown.
  • Strict on foul & dangerous play - lifting legs above the horizontal, shoulder charging, neck grabs, neck rolls, stamping, head contact.

July 2022:  Adoption of 2021 Global Law Trials

  • All five 2021 Global Law Trials – Goal Line Drop-out, 50:22, jackler protection, banning pre-bound pods in open play (flying wedge) and approving a single latcher – became full law as of July 1, 2022.

Feb 2022 Law Clarification:  Ball Carrier is not allowed to hurdle a tackler

  • WR has confirmed that a ball carrier is not allowed to hurdle over a tackler.    You can still dive for a try, but a defender is also allowed to tackle you while you are diving for the line.

Feb 2022 Law Clarification:  When the ball is out

  • If the ball has left the ruck, then the ruck is over, and the ball is out. Providing a player comes from an onside position and does not dive onto the ball if it is within 1m of the ruck, they may play the ball.

 

Reference sites: 


SWRRS Game Mgmt Guidelines Discussion - Jan 06, 2022

Here's the link to the recording of our discussion of the 2021-2022 Game Management Guidelines.

2021 Global Law Trials

World Rugby (WR) has announced several Global Law Trials that go into effect on August 1st, 2021.  These trials are not minor tweaks and will have some significant effects on safety and strategy. We strongly recommend all players and coaches familiarize themselves with the new Laws. Referees must
learn all the details.

More information can be found at: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/global-law-trials.

This resource includes many good video examples. 
 

USA Rugby Announcement on Game Mgmt Guidelines and Global Law Trials

Click through to the USA Rugby article with explanations and links to the 2021-2022 Game Management Guidelines and the current Global Law Trials.

Law Clarification:  Additional GLDO scenarios explained

  • Also noted that the World Rugby Laws app gets regularly updated and is a great reference.

 

Summary of the 5 Law Trials

1:  50:22

If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly (i.e. it bounces first) into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resulting lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase immediately prior to the kick (tackle, ruck or maul) must originate inside the defensive half, or an opponent touches the ball inside the half before it is kicked.

2:  Goal line drop-out

Play restarts with a goal line dropout anywhere along the goal line:

  1. The ball is held up in in-goal (either team in possession).
  2. Knock-on while in-goal from an attacking player.
  3. Attacking kick from open play (including a FK or PK that was not a shot at goal) is made dead by the defending team in-goal  - either grounding in-goal or by carry/kick/knock the ball dead out the back or side (dead ball line or touch-in-goal).

Link to table of In-Goal Permutations.

3:  1-player latch

One support player may pre-latch to a ball carrier prior to contact. If the ball carrier is tackled, this player must observe all the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet and not obstruct an opposing tackler or player trying to contest for the ball. The first opposition player may still attempt to tackle the ball carrier, and will not be considered to have automatically created a maul when they make initial contact.

4:  Flying Wedge

Two or more support players may not bind onto a ball carrier prior to opposition contact play. This is dangerous play. (Usually happens near the goal line or in open play.)

5:  Cleanout and safety of the ‘jackler’

The ‘jackler’ has now been defined as the first arriving team-mate of the tackler at the tackle. A Penalty Kick has been added for clean-outs which target or drop weight onto this player’s lower limbs. No-wrap hits and ‘neck rolls’ on a jackler are still foul play. Clasping a jackler under their armpits to lever them up and out of the contest (known as a ‘gator roll’) is still legal.