Rulings in Law:1. The SCOTTISH Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard to Law 10 Foul Play.
A player is cautioned in a game and shown a yellow card for an offence under Law 10.3 (c). Repeated infringements by the team.
Later on in the same game he is cautioned and shown a second yellow card for an offence under Law 10.4 (a) Striking an opponent. Following the second yellow card, the Referee dismisses the player showing him the red card.
Can it please be explained in Law where the referee is justified in this action?
The designated members have ruled that:
a. Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law must be admonished, cautioned and temorarily suspended or sent off.
b. A player who has been cautioned and temporarily suspended who then commits a second cautionable offence within the Foul Play Law must be sent off.
2. The SCOTTISH Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard to Law 22 In-Goal.
Team A kicks into team B's 22 metre area. The fullback of team B running back kicks the ball into touch-in-goal. Where is the mark for the ensuing 5 metre scrum? Is it 5 metres from the touch-line or 15 metres from the touch-line?
The Designated Members have rules that:
Law 22
11 (a) When the ball or a player playing the ball, or a player carrying it touches the corner post, the touch in goal line or dead ball line, or touches the ground beyond the lines, the ball becomes dead. If the ball was carried or played into touch- in-goal by the attacking team, a drop-out should be awarded to the defending team. If the ball was carried or played into in-goal by the defending team, a scrum shall be awarded 5 metres from the goal-line and 5 metres from the touch line with the attacking team throwing-in the ball.
3. The FFR has requested a ruling with reard to Law 9 and 21 - Kicks at goal;
In the case of a kick at goal, what should the referee decide if the ball rolls over after being placed either when the kicker is getting ready for his kick or has started his run?
The Designated members have ruled that:
LAW 21 - PENALTY & FREE KICKS - 4 (b)
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 signalled 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.
LAW 9 - METHOD OF SCORING.
Taking a Conversion Kick
(e) The kicker must take the kick wihtin one minute from the time the kicker has indicated an intention to kick. The intention to kick is signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or the player makes a mark on the mark on the ground. The player must complete the kick within the minute even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again.
PENALTY: The kick is disallowed if the kicker does not take the kick within the time allowed.
4. The IRISH Rugby Football Union requested a ruling with regard to the following question:
"Is it permissable to wear an ear piece, usually permitted head gear, to receive instructions during play from a coach or other person?"
The designated Members ruled that it was not permissable. This can be confirmed in Law by amending Law 4 (2) BANNED ITEMS OF CLOTHING by adding:
"Law 4 (2) (j) A player must not wear communication devices with the player's clothing".
5. The NEW ZEALAND Rugby Football Union and the AUSTRALIAN Rugby Football Union requested a ruling following Council's approval of the Designated Members ruling relating to Law 10 and Obstruction at the Annual Meeting which was incorporated into Law at the Annual Meeting 2000.
The Unions asked if the Ruling and Law Amendments prevented; - players undertaking scissors movements - players running in front of the ball carriers - players passing behind other players.
The response from the Designated Members was that a player can be in front of a ball-carrier providing that player does not interfere with an opponent, an opponents running lines or an opponents ability to defend.
This can be confirmed in Law by amending Law 10 1(b) to read:
"RUNNING IN FRONT OF A BALL CARRIER. A player must not voluntarily move or stand in front of a team-mate carrying the ball thereby preventing opponents from tackling the current ball-carrier whern they gain possession.
6. The SCOTTISH Rugby Football Union requested a ruling from the Designated Members in respect of Law 22.
LAW 22 - IN-GOAL
11 BALL DEAD IN-GOAL
Has been amended with effect from 1 August 2000 to read as follows:
(a) When the ball or a player carrying it touches the corner post, the touch-in-goal line or the dead- ball line, or touches the ground beyond those lines the ball becomes dead. If the ball was carried or played into in-goal by the defending team, a 5-metre scrum shall be awarded and the attacking team throws in the ball.
The SCOTTISH Rugby Union have asked the following question;
"Team A stand-off kicks ahead, the ball in in-goal and goes over the touch-in-goal line in the air where it is kneed by a spectator or bounces off a tree close by, comes back into in-goal and is touched down by the attacking player who is following up the kick. What is the referees decision?
Having considered the matter, the Designated Members have ruled that the interpretation of Law 22 should be:
(a) When the ball touches the corner post, the touch- in-goal line or the dead ball line, or touches anything or anyone beyond those lines, the ball becomes dead. If the ball was played into in- goal by the attacking team, a drop-out shall be awarded to the defending team. If the ball was played into in-goal by the defending team, a five metre scrum shall be awarded and the attacking team throws the ball.
(b) When the player carrying the ball touches the corner post, the touch-in-goal line, the dead ball line, or touches the ground beyond those lines, the ball becomes dead. If the ball was carried into on-goal by the attacking team, a drop out shall be awarded to the defending team. If the ball was carried into in-goal by the defending team, a 5 metre scrum shall be awarded and the attacking team throws in the ball.
Re-letter (b) as (c). This can be incorporated in Law.
The IRISH Rugby Football Union requested a ruling relating to Law 3 asking: "When a front row player has been temporarily suspended and a substitute front row player is used, the captain nominates another player to leave the field of play. Permission for that player to return to the field of play is not indicated anywhere in Law".
Amending Law 3 14 can rectify this , as follows:
Add new(b)
(b) When a period of temporary suspension ends and a front row player returns to the field of play, the replacement front row player leaves the field of play and and nominated player who left the field of play may resume playing in the match.
Re-letter (b) as (c, (c) as (d).
The Laws.
