Enforcement of current Law - May 2015

At a meeting in April 2015, the Laws Representation Group (LRG) considered the areas of the Game where, it had been agreed that Law amendments were not required but that current Law was to be enforced by match officials including:

Every time the head or the neck is deliberately grabbed or choked, the offending player runs the risk of receiving a yellow or red card

Cleanouts around the neck must be penalised

Match officials should work together to ensure that foul play is strictly penalised and that player welfare is paramount

High tackles

Neck contact

Play on – Fair challenge with both players in a realistic position to catch the ball. Even if the player(s) land(s) dangerously, play on

Penalty only – Fair challenge with wrong timing - No pulling down Yellow card – Not a fair challenge, there is no contest and the player is pulled down landing on his back or side Red card – It’s not a fair challenge with no contest, whilst being a reckless or deliberate foul play action and the player lands in a dangerous position

1. Ensure that all scrum feeds are credible FK if clearly not straight Look for shoulders not being parallel Manage the situation

1. If scrum is or becomes stationary If ball is available (No. 8 feet) The referee will call “use it”

Sanction all players who join in front of the ball carrier – Law 17.4(c)

The ripper must be bound – it will be accidental offside