Clarification 13-2003

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

This clarification was incorporated into law in 2009

Request

The SRU has requested a ruling with regard the tackler, in Law 15.

Under the definition of a tackle, "any opponents of the tackled player who go to ground are known as tacklers." Can a tackler stay on his feet?

If the answer to the above is yes, under 15.5 The Tackler it states in (a) that "when a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler must immediately release the tackled player." Can a tackler who is on his feet hold on to the tackled player or must he release the tackled player?

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

By definition, any opponents of the tackled player who go to ground are known as tacklers. Therefore a player on his feet is not a tackler as defined by Law.

A player on his feet in the situation described is not a tackler as defined by Law. That player is not part of the tackle, as he has not gone to ground. He can only therefore be described as an 'Other Player' in Law 15.7 Other Players. Specifically Law 15.7(c) would apply, where that player can only play the ball if he approaches from behind the ball and from directly behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players' goal-line.