Appendices

Appendix 1 - Law 9: Sample Charges

Wording of the Charge(s)

Below are Law 9 offences that could result in a Red Card or Citing. The acts of foul play that make up the offence need to be covered in the report as this will be the focus of any hearing that might follow the Red Card, citing or warning.

Physical or verbal abuse Law 9.12

Punching or striking. A player must not strike an opponent with the hand, arm or fist, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).

The player, GREEN, struck his opponent, NORTH, with his (open or backhand) hand
Arm (front or back of his forearm) (closed / clenched) fist / elbow / head / knee/s

Stamping or trampling. A player must not stamp or trample on an opponent.

The player, GREEN, stamped / trampled on his opponent, NORTH, with his (right / left) Foot

Kicking. A player must not kick an opponent.

The player, GREEN, kicked his opponent, NORTH, with his (right / left) foot / leg

Tripping. A player must not trip an opponent with the leg or foot.

The player, GREEN, tripped his opponent, NORTH, with his (right / left) leg / foot

A ‘stiff-arm tackle’ is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff- arm to strike an opponent.

The player, GREEN, struck his opponent, NORTH, with a stiff-arm tackle using his (right / left) arm

Dangerous tackling. A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Law 9.13

The player, GREEN, tackled his opponent, NORTH, early / late / or dangerously

A player must not tackle or attempt to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders

The player, GREEN, tackled / attempted to tackle his opponent, NORTH,

• with his tackle starting above the line of the shoulders

• below the line of the shoulders but impacting above the line of the shoulders

• with the tackle being around the head / neck

Playing a player without the ball is dangerous play. Law 9.14

The player, GREEN, played his opponent, NORTH, without the ball by …..

Playing an opponent without the ball. Law 9.15

Except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player who is not in possession of the ball must not hold, push or obstruct an opponent not carrying the ball.

The player, GREEN, who was not in possession of the ball played his opponent, NORTH, Who was not in a scrum ruck or maul by holding / pushing / obstructing him

Dangerous charging. Law 9.16

A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without trying to grasp that player.

The player, GREEN, charge / knocked down his opponent, NORTH Without trying to grasp that player

A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground. Law 9.17

The player, GREEN, tackled his opponent, NORTH, whose feet were off the ground at the time of impact of the tackle.

Lifting Tackle. A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground. Law 9.18

The player, GREEN, lifted his opponent, NORTH, from the ground

• And dropped / drove them into the ground

• Whilst that player’s feet were still off the ground

• Such that the players head and or upper body came into contact with the ground.

Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. Law 9.20

A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

The player, GREEN, charged into the Ruck / maul And made contact with his opponent, NORTH, without using his arms/above the line of the shoulders, Or without binding on another the player

Late-charging the kicker. Law 9.25

A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball.

The player, GREEN, intentionally charged / obstructed his opponent, NORTH, who had just kicked the ball.

A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. Law 9.27

The player, GREEN, did …………………… that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship.