Clarification 3-2021

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

Recently there have been instances of rucks being extended sideways which gets the last player very close to the opposition 9 when he/ she is box kicking. This reduces space and the options available to players. See attached clips of ruck side extensions:

CLARIFICATION REQUEST: Are the actions as described above legal?

Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

Adding players to your own side of the ruck, in order to advance closer to the opposition side of the ruck, as shown in the clips attached, squeezes the space available and compromises the clearance of the ball from the ruck.

These actions should be discouraged.

If a player is fully bound and they have moved beyond the offside line then they must return to be behind the hindmost foot before being able to be involved in play, once the ball is out or is played from the ruck.

Specific decisions on example clips are recommended below:

Ruck – players rotating around the side of rucks

Black 6 has rotated around the side of the ruck. He must return to be behind the hindmost foot before being able to be involved in play, once the ball is out or is played from the ruck.

Black 5 has rotated around the side of the ruck. He must return to be behind the hindmost foot before being able to be involved in play, once the ball is out or is played from the ruck.

Blue 2 has rotated around the side of the ruck. He must return to be behind the hindmost foot before being able to be involved in play, once the ball is out or is played from the ruck.