Clarification 6-2004

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

The FFR has requested a ruling with regard Law 3-Number of Players-The Team.

The following situations occur in the below order in a match in which each Team had 22 players.

Scenario 1
(1) The hooker #2 gets injured. The replacement #16 replaces the hooker. Do the scrums remain contestable?
(2) The left prop #1 is injured or is sent off. The replacement #17 replaces the left prop. Do the scrums remain contestable?
(3) The right prop #3 is injured or is sent off. There is no replacement available to play in the front row. Do the scrums remain contestable?

Scenario 2
(1) The hooker #1 gets injured. The replacement #16 replaces the hooker. Do the scrums remain contestable?
(2) The right prop #3 is injured or is sent off. The replacement #17 replaces the right prop. This player is suitably trained and experienced to play in the right prop position and therefore scrums remain contestable. What happens if the replacement #17 advises the referee he is only able to play left prop?

Scenario 3
(1) The left prop #1 gets injured or is sent off. The replacement #17 replaces the left prop. Do the scrums remain contestable?
(2) The prop #17 or #3 is injured or sent off. There is no other suitably trained or experienced prop available. Do the scrums remain contestable?

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

Scenario 1
(1) The scrums remain contestable.
(2) The scrums remain contestable.
(3) Uncontested scrums commence. Note we have in accordance with Law a replacement hooker and a replacement prop.

Scenario 2
(1) The scrums remain contestable.
(2) The team must by Law have had five players who can play in the front row to ensure that on the first occasion that a replacement hooker is required and, on the first occasion that a replacement prop forward is required, the team can continue to play safely with contested scrums. The referee has no choice but to have uncontested scrums. Law 3.14(a) states that it is not the responsibility of the referee to determine the suitability of trained front row replacements nor their availability, as this is a team responsibility.

Scenario 3
(1) The scrums remain contestable.
(2) Uncontested scrums commence. The Law requires the team to be able to provide a replacement prop on the first occasion and this has been complied with. The Law requires replacement hooker for replacement hooker, replacement prop for either tight head or loose head. i.e. the replacement prop or one of the starting props must be able to play both sides.