Clarification 4-2002

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

The WRU has requested a ruling with regard to the following point of Law:

'These can be taken following a scrum collapse providing the kick is taken either through the mark or in a line through and directly behind the mark'.

The implication of this interpretation is that even though the scrum has collapsed and both front rows may still be engaged on the ground, the referee will allow the non-offending team to take a quick tap penalty/free kick. Such an interpretation is contrary to the first principle of refereeing as set out in the IRB Level One Referee Beginner Course, that of player safety.

Law 6. 9 (g) "The referee must blow the whistle when it would be dangerous to let play continue". This includes when a scrum collapses or when a front row player is lifted into the air or is forced upwards out of a scrum, or when it is probable that a player has been seriously injured".

Law 10. 5. Sanction clearly states "Any player who infringes any part of the Foul Play Law (including Law 10. 4. (i) Dangerous Play in a Scrum, Ruck or Maul) must be admonished or cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off" In other words the referee's minimum action in this case is to speak to the offending player in the scrum and warn him. The opportunity to play advantage by allowing the non-offending team to take a quick tap penalty/free kick is NOT an option for the referee in this instance. Law 8. 3 (d) is specific that "Advantage MUST NOT be applied when a scrum collapses".

The Law does not allow the referee the freedom to make the decision on whether or not a collapsed scrum is dangerous. It is stated in Law 20.9 (a) that collapsing the scrum IS dangerous play and therefore under Law 10.5
Sanctions and Law 8. 3 (d) the referee MUST stop play immediately until the players in the collapsed scrum are no longer in danger, i.e. disengaged from each other.

By allowing an individual referee the latitude to decide if a collapsed scrum is dangerous or not will not only lead to perceived inconsistency in referees' interpretation in separate games by players and spectators but also to a perceived inconsistency by a referee at identical situations in a particular game.

The Welsh Rugby Union is very concerned that this interpretation is the opposite of how referees, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, have refereed collapsed scrum penalties. Not only is player safety endangered but also referees, and the IRB as the governing body, are laid open to a claim for negligence if a forward is seriously injured because a scrum is not stopped immediately when it has collapsed.

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

If a scrum collapses then:
Law 6 A 9 (g) states "The referee must blow the whistle when it would be dangerous to let play continue. This includes when a scrum collapses, or when the front row player is lifted into the air or is forced upwards out of the scrum, or when it is probable that a player has been seriously injured."

If there is an injury then:
Law 6 A 10 (a) states "If a player is injured and continuation of play would be dangerous the referee must blow the whistle immediately."


Law 10.5 does not state when the player must be admonished or cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off. These actions can take place after another phase of play.


Law 8.3 (d) states that "Advantage must not be applied when a scrum collapses. The referee must blow his whistle immediately". It does not preclude a quick tap kick after the whistle is blown, as any action after the blowing of the whistle is not playing advantage.


Law 8.3 (d) does not state that "the referee must stop play immediately until the players in the collapsed scrum are no longer in danger i.e. disengaged from each other".


The Designated Members therefore rule that there is no Law which precludes the referee from allowing a free kick/penalty kick taken in the form of a quickly taken tap kick, from the correct position.