Clarification 2-2018

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

I refer to your recent correspondence with Rugby AU General Counsel Mr. Patrick Eyers regarding Rugby AU’s request for clarification of World Rugby’s Law Variation Trial with respect to Law 16, Amended Ruck Law (Law 15 as of 1 January 2018):

“A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet andover the ball which is on the ground (tackled player, tackler). At this point the offside line is created. A player on their feet may use their hands to pick up the ball as long as this is immediate. As soon as an opposition player arrives no hands can be used.”

Specifically, Rugby AU is seeking clarity on its understanding that the Law creating offside lines when the first arriving player gets over the ball was intended solely to address the “no offside lines at a tackle” issue, and that it wasnot intended to modify the way the ball was contested at the breakdown. That is:

• the first arriving player from the defending team can always go directlyfor the ball with hands if there is a window to do so; and
• if the player has to drive an attacking player away first in order toaccess the ball, then no hands can be used.

Rugby Australia is seeking a formal World Rugby Law clarification on the above to help aid a broader understanding of this trial law and its application across the game.

Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

Your assumptions in all three questions are correct ie:

1. The Law creating offside lines when the first arriving player gets over the ball wasintended solely to address the “no offside lines at a tackle” issue, and that it wasnot intended to modify the way the ball was contested at the breakdown
2. The first arriving player from the defending team can always go directly for theball with hands if there is a window to do so
3. If the player has to drive an attacking player away first in order to access the ball,then no hands can be used.

Addendum

The Fifteens Law Review Group met on Monday 16 April and agreed to bring the Ruck law trial into full law. They also agreed on the following simplified and more logical wording of the law:

Offside lines are created when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball, which is on the ground. A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground.

It is hoped that this revised wording will help resolve the questions that you raise.