Clarification 6-2002

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

The IRFU have requested a further Ruling with regard to quickly taken kicks after the collapse of a scrum:

The clarification which we seek is the continuation of play by way of quick tap PK/FK when a collapsed scrimmage is still engaged.

In practice, at the higher levels of the Game and when all the correct requirements for a quick PK/FK are observed it is likely that the front rows will be disengaged. However, if the front rows are not disengaged (and this may be more likely at the lower levels of the Game) we are concerned -under the following Laws -that the game be allowed to continue.

Law6 A, 9(g); 10(a); 10(c);
These do not state, per se, that play should not continue when a collapsed scrum is still engaged. However, there appear to be certain clear implications within these Laws which would place the referee (and others) in an extremely difficult legal situation in the event of a serious injury, if play continues under these circumstances.

Law 21, 4 -(i) & (j) Kick taken quickly;
These Laws require the players of the kicker's team to be retiring, and that they then become on-side when they run behind the team mate who took the penalty or free kick, or when a team mate carrying the ball runs in front of them.

Again, in practice, if the collapsed front rows are not disengaged, then these players -who are not retiring become support players who have not been on-side. Perhaps if all players were required to be retiring (i.e. on their feet) prior to quick taps, then these issues would be covered.

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

In practical terms the referee will whistle immediately for a collapsed scrum and give their decision. If the referee has awarded a kick as a result of a penalty provision, and provided there are no reasons why the game should not continue, a quick tap kick can be taken.

If there is a reason why a quick tap should not be taken the referee will blow the whistle a second time, and the quick tap will not be taken. Reasons for such an action would be an injury to a player, or a situation where the referee believes an injury may have occurred.