Clarification 5-2016

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Clarification	5-2016
Union / HP Ref Manager	RFU
Law Reference	19
Date	2016-12-19

Request

We are seeking clarification that the changes to the touch definitions (Law 19) in the Global Law trials will also apply to the dead ball line. If this is not the case then there will be significant differences in outcome in the following circumstances:

1. How the game is restarted could depend on whether or not the ball was picked up by a player who had a foot over a touch in goal line or whether the players foot was over the dead ball line; and


2. Whether or not the ball is dead following a player returning the ball to the playing area could depend on whether the ball was over the touch in-goal line or dead ball line. The different outcome could lead to a try being awarded in one case and not in the other.

There is urgency to this request as the Global Law trial will commence in the Southern Hemisphere on 1st January 2017

Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

The changes to the touch definitions (Law 19) will also apply to the dead ball line and to the goal line. Also, note that whether the ball is moving or stationary is no longer relevant.
Three video examples maybe helpful:

https://youtu.be/TSCC9iHV7cM = Try
https://youtu.be/Qh2ABCXf1Z8 = New decision - 22m drop out as kicking team took ball into in goal instead of scrum back to where ball originally kicked from
http://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=22 see video at 22.9 (c). New Decision - scrum 5m attack instead of 22m drop out

To be applied from: As per global law trial implementation dates:
January 1, 2017 – Southern Hemisphere
July 1, 2017 – Northern Hemisphere