Clarification 5-2003

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

This has been superseded by Law Amendment in 2004.

Request

Australian Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard to Law 3.5 (d):

This Law states:
"When 19, 20, 21 or 22 players are nominated in a team there must be sufficient front row players to play at hooker, tight-head prop and loose-head prop who are suitably trained and experienced to ensure that on both the first and second occasions that a replacement in any front row position is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums."

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

If in an International fixture, the loose-head prop [No.1] was permanently replaced due to injury [by No.17] and then a little later, a tight-head was injured permanently, would this team be in breach of Law 3.5 [d] if they did not have another player, either on the field or the bench, who was able to fill this position, therefore ensuring that the fixture was able to continue with safe and contestable scrums? The team would be in breach of Law 3.5(d) as they have not satisfied the Law by being able to ensure that on the second occasion that a replacement in any front row position was required, the team had not been able to continue to play safely with contested scrums.