The Laws They Are a Changing

The IRB have introduced a new version of the laws called “The Laws of the Game Made Easier”. This is based upon the Laws in Plain English that many of you will remember. Additionally the laws have been restructured resulting in the number of laws being reduced from 28 to 22!

The layout of the new version now has the following sections:

 Before the match  During the match  Method of playing the match  In the field-of-play  Restarting the game  In-goal  Under 19 Variations (pink pages)  Seven-a-side Variations (green pages)  Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) (purple pages)

Now that the moratorium of law changes has been removed following the World Cup (it will be restored at the end of 2002), a number of law changes have been made which will be effective from 1st August 2000. In summary these are:

Numbers of players – law 3

a) Substituted players must not return and play in the match, even to replace an injured player, except:  A substituted player may replace a player with a bleeding or open wound.  A substituted player may replace a front row player when injured, temporarily suspended or sent off.

b) Where a front row forward is sent off or temporarily suspended (sin binned) then any player may now be nominated to leave the field-of-play to enable a suitably trained front row player from the replacements to take the field.

Time – laws 5,9 & 21

Kicks at goal – kickers now have one minute to kick at goal. If the kicker takes more than one minute from when they have indicated their intention to kick then:

 Conversion – kick disallowed  Penalty - kick disallowed, scrum awarded to the opposition, at the mark

Match Officials – law 6

a) The match officials may now consult with others i.e. a video referee and a timekeeper (not applicable below International level).

b) Red cards will be used to signal that a player has been sent off and a yellow card to signal that a player has been temporarily suspended (sin binned).

Foul Play – law 10

a) Obstruction – players may not run in front of a ball carrier, block a tackler or block the ball.

 Players who deliberately obstruct defenders from tackling the ball carrier or playing the ball will be penalised – penalty kick

b) Players must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a team mate – penalty kick. (Also included in law 16)

Off-side in General Play – law 11

a) Following a kick ahead, the 10m, offside circle has now become a 10m line across the pitch from where the receiver is stood. Off-side players must retire behind the 10m line.

b) Players can only be put on-side by running behind the kicker or; the kicker or team-mate who was level with or behind the kicker when (or after) the ball was kicked, runs in front of the off-side player.

c) Off-side players within the 10m cannot be put on-side by the actions of the opposition players.

Foot In… - laws 18,19 & 22

a) Mark – a player with one foot on the 22m line or behind it is considered to be “in the 22”

b) In-Touch – the ball is in touch if the player catching it has a foot on the touch-line or the ground beyond the touch-line. (Throw-in to the side of the player catching the ball!)

c) In-Goal – if a defending player, with the ball, has one foot on the goal line or in the in-goal then the ball is considered to be in in-goal.

Line-Out – Law 19

The line-out must not be formed within 5m of the goal-line.

Scrum – law 20

The middle line of the scrum must not be within 5m of the goal-line.

Free Kick - law 21

The team awarded a free kick (or who elect for a scrum instead of a free kick) cannot score a dropped goal until after the ball next becomes dead, or after an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball-carrier. (The law does not permit a dropped goal to be scored from a ruck after a free kick, the same restriction is now in place for the maul.

Also, the IRB Experimental Law Variations will be implemented throughout the game from the same date. These are:

Foul Play – law 10

a) For all actions that are cautioned by the referee (including both foul play and repeated technical infringements by the team or individual players) the player will be sin binned for 10 minutes.

Procedures to follow:

a) Players who are sin binned will be required to stand at the opposition’s dead ball line between the goal posts. They may only re-enter the field-of-play at the direction of the referee, and must report to the referee before resuming playing.

b) The 10 minutes is playing time and does not include stoppages for injury etc. the referee is the sole judge of time.

The Tackle – law 15

a) The existing laws apply in that:

 The tackler must immediately release the tackled player and get up or move away  The tackled player must immediately play the ball; release or pass the ball and get up or move away  Arriving players must remain on their feet  Tackled players must release the ball to arriving players on their feet.

b) Now think of a “tackle zone” extending from the back feet of the tackler(s) and tackled player in the tackle and to 1m either side of the tackler(s) and tackled player.

c) Arriving players can only enter this “zone” from the direction of their own goal-line to play the ball.

d) Any player who gains possession of the ball at the tackle must play the ball immediately by moving away or passing or kicking the ball.

e) Any player who first gains possession of the ball must not go to ground at the tackle or in close proximity (within 1m) to it unless tackled by an opposition player.

f) Any player who first gains possession of the ball at the tackle (e.g. the acting scrum half) or in close proximity to it (within 1m) may only be tackled by an opposition player who has entered the “tackle zone” from direction of their own goal-line.

Line-out – law 19

a) Players must not pre-grip below the waist

b) Players must not support a jumping team-mate below the shorts from behind or below the thighs from the front.

c) Players may peel off from the line-out after the ball has been thrown-in.

d) They must keep moving until the line-out has ended (existing law).

e) They must not leave the “zone” (15m from the touch-line and 10m from the line of touch) until the line-out has ended.

Scrum – law 20

a) Binding by the loose-head prop - must bind his opponent (tight head prop) with his left arm inside the right arm of his opponent. He must grip the opponent’s jersey with his left hand only on the back or side of it and not the chest, arm, sleeve or collar. He must not exert any downward pressure or place his left hand or arm on his left thigh.

b) Binding by the tight-head prop - must bind his opponent (loose head prop) with his right arm outside the left upper arm of his opponent. He must grip his opponent’s jersey with his right hand only on the back or side of it and not on the chest, arm, sleeve or collar. He must not exert any downward pressure.

c) When a scrum remains stationary, after its initial movement, and the ball does not emerge immediately (the referee will remind the No.8 and the scrum half in a similar manner to the Maul – “use it or lose it”), a scrum will be awarded to the team not in possession at the time of the stoppage.

d) Where a scrum wheels more than 90°, a new scrum shall be awarded to the team not in possession at the time of the stoppage.

More information can be obtained from your local referee society who has had the law changes in detail.

Every club and school will receive a copy of the new law book with their annual mail out.

A video has been produced to support the changes in the format of the Laws. This is available from the RFU Resource Centre at £14.00+ p&p. Additional copies of the Law book can also be obtained from the Resource Centre for £4.00+p&p on 01484 865950 or via the Referees’ Shop on the RFU website www.rfu.com