Three More Law Clarifications

World Rugby ( formerly the International Rugby Board, née the International Rugby Football Board), rugby's statutory body, has issued three new clarifications of laws.

These clarifications, made by a subcommittee called the Designated Members, are not law but have thew force of law. There have now been nine such clarifications this year.

The Laws of the Game state: The Laws of the Game are complete and contain all that is necessary to enable the game to be played correctly and fairly.

Nine clarifications this year and other instructions, local and universal, give the lie to that and it is no wonder that spectators, players and referees get confused. This year's clarifications have dealt with the knock-on, the conversion, the tackle, treating concussion, restart kicks and kick-offs. Now we have three more. Regular clarifications suggest that this claim of completeness is exaggerated.

Clarifications tend to come as requests from national bodies. These three are all from Portugal.

In brief, as sent to referees by their boss André Watson, the latest three are:

1. “Bunny Hopping” not allowed. Number 8 is not allowed to keep the ball between his feet/legs and “hop” whilst scrum is moving forward.

2. Drop outs for Sevens is applied exactly the same as for 15s. It is only the kick-offs that are handled differently.

3. A drop at goal from a scrum chosen from a free kick should not be awarded but play continues as if the drop was a kick out of hand.

All above are applicable with immediate effect.

The full text if below.

1. Law Clarification 7 of 2014

Request

The Federação Portuguesa de Rugby seeks clarification on the interpretation of Laws 20.9 (b) and (c).

Scenario

Team A are awarded a scrum. After winning the ball in the ensuing scrum, the hindmost player in that scrum grasps the ball with his feet or ankles and, whilst still bound to the scrum, bunny hops forwards with the ball still caught between his feet/ankles.

Is this action legal?

Law 20.9 Scrum - General Restrictions

(b) All players: Handling in the scrum. Players must not handle the ball in the scrum or pick it up with their legs.

(c) All players: Other restrictions on winning the ball. Players must not try to win the ball in the scrum by using any part of their body except their foot or lower leg.

Law 20.9 (b) appears to determine the action ("bunny hopping" with the ball caught at the player's feet) illegal and liable to penalty. However, doubt arises as to whether "legs" mentioned in the sentence includes the feet. On the other hand, Law 20.9 (c) specifically mentions feet, and so this would appear to render the action legal.

Could you please clarify as there are diverse interpretations on this action across various countries and there appears to be ambiguity in the Laws of the Game?

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

The action of “bunny hopping” as described is not permissible. Law 20.9 (b) states that: "All players: Handling in the scrum. Players must not handle the ball in the scrum or pick it up with their legs. Sanction: Penalty kick."

There is no ambiguity in this Law. Law 20.9 (c) refers to winning the ball whereas 20.9 (b) relates to play after the ball has been won.

2. Law Clarification 8 of 2014

Request

The Federação Portuguesa de Rugby seeks clarification on the following scenario relating to the Laws of the Game, concerning the Seven-a-side game in which there appears to be some confusion or ambiguity.

Scenario

Team A are awarded a 22 drop-out. The kick is correctly executed and the ball enters the opposing team's in-goal area without having touched or been touched by a player in the process. A defending player picks up the ball within this area and touches down, making the ball dead.

What should the referee's decision be?

Law 13 Definitions

The kick-off occurs at the start of each half of the match and at the beginning of each period of extra time. Restart kicks occur after a score or a touchdown.

Law 13.10 Definitions

Drop-out: A drop-out is a drop kick taken by the defending team. The drop-out may be taken anywhere on or behind the 22-metre line. A drop-out is used to restart play after an attacking player has put or taken the ball into the in-goal, without infringement, and a defending player has made the ball dead there or it has gone into touch-in­ goal or on or over the dead ball line.

Law 13.15 Drop-out goes into the opponent's in-goal

a) If the ball is kicked into the opponent's in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:

to ground the ball,

or to make it dead,

or to play on.

b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or makes it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, they have two choices:

to have a scrum formed at the centre of the 22-metre line from where the kick was taken and they throw in the ball, or

to have the other team drop-out again.

c) If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.

Further to this, the Seven-a-side Variations state:

The Laws of the Game apply to the seven-a-side game, subject to the following variations.

The variations presented for Law 13 end at Law 13.9. In the fifteen-a-side game, that Law refers to (Kick-off) ball goes into the in-goal. Thus, if no variations are presented for the incidents surrounding the drop-out, the "normal" Laws should be applied.

Hence, our understanding is that in the seven-a-side game, in the event of a 22 drop-out travelling into the opposing team's in-goal area without touching or having been touched by a player in the process and a defending player grounds the ball without any delay, the referee's decision should be to apply Law 13.15. (option between a scrum on the 22 where the kick was taken or ask to repeat the drop-out).

In other words, the Free Kick sanction applied in the seven-a-side game for infringements surrounding the kick-off does not apply to the restart kick ("22 drop-out"). Similarly, this would apply to a drop-out being incorrectly taken (Law 13.12), not crossing the 22-metre line (Law 13.13) or kicked directly into touch (13.14).

Is this interpretation correct?

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

This interpretation is correct. For drop-outs normal 15 a-side sanctions apply.

Law 13.15: Drop-out goes into the opponents in-goal

(b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or makes it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, they have two choices:

To have a scrum formed at the centre of the 22-metre line from where the kick was taken and they throw in the ball, or

To have the other team drop-out again.

3. Clarification 9 of 2014

Request

The Federação Portuguesa de Rugby seeks clarification on the following situation.

Law 13.1 Drop-out Definitions

A drop-out is used to restart play after an attacking player has put or taken the ball into the in-goal, without infringement, and a defending player has made the ball dead there or it has gone into touch-in­ goal or on or over the dead ball line.

Law 21.4 Penalty and free kick options and requirements

c) No delay. If a kicker indicates to the referee the intention to kick a penalty kick at goal, the kick must be taken within one minute from the time the player indicates the intention to kick at goal. The intention to kick is signaled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark on the ground. The player must complete the kick within one minute even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. If the one minute is exceeded, the kick is disallowed, a scrum is ordered at the place of the mark and the opponents throw in the ball. For any other type of kick, the kick must be taken without undue delay.

Law 21.6 Scoring from a free kick:

a) A goal cannot be scored from a free kick.

b) The team awarded a free kick cannot score a dropped goal until after the ball next becomes dead, or until an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier. This restriction applies also to a scrum or line-out taken instead of a free kick.

Law 22.7 Restarting after a touch down

a) When an attacking player sends or carries the ball into the opponent's in-goal and it becomes dead there, either because a defender grounded it or because it went into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, a drop-out is awarded.

Law 22.8 Ball kicked dead through in-goal:

"If a team kicks the ball through their opponents' in-goal into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, except by an unsuccessful kick at goal or attempted dropped goal, the defending team has two choices:

To have a drop-out, or

To have a scrum at the place where the ball was kicked and they throw in."

Scenario

Team A is awarded a free kick. They opt for a scrum and win the ball. The ball is quickly passed to their flyhalf who dropkicks it through the posts and above the cross bar and the ball then becomes dead.

As we can see, Law 21.6 determines that the attempted drop goal is not valid, however no mention is made to how play should restart.

Should the referee restart play by:

a) awarding only a scrum at the place of the attempted drop goal? This decision appears to be valid according to Law 21.4 (c).

b) awarding only a 22 drop-out? This decision appears to be valid according to Law 13.10 Definitions, paragraph two and Law 22.7 (a).

Law 22.8 appears to deny giving an option to the opposing team in either a scrum at the place of the attempted dropped goal or a 22 drop-out.

Because of the above-mentioned doubts within the Laws of the Game, we seek clarity on whether the attempted dropped goal following a free kick is considered to be:

i) an unsuccessful kick at goal/unsuccessful dropped goal, in which case Laws 13.10 and 22.7 (a) should apply?

or

ii) a free kick incorrectly executed, in which case Law 21.4 should be applied?

Further to this:

iii) In the case the ball does not become dead after the attempted dropped goal, should advantage be applied?

Could you please clarify as the Laws of the Game do not clearly state how to restart play after the attempted dropped goal has been taken?

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

The illegal drop kick as described should be treated similar to a punt in general play, i.e. play continues. If the ball becomes dead from the kick then Law 22.8 should apply.

Law 22.8: Ball kicked dead through in-goal

If a team kicks the ball through their opponents’ in-goal into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, except by an unsuccessful kick at goal or attempted dropped goal, the defending team has two choices:

To have a drop-out, or

To have a scrum at the place where the ball was kicked and they throw in.