Laws - U19 Law Interpretations

Laws Index

 

Law Interpretations/Variations For All Who Play And Manage (ie. Coaches and Referees ) Players Aged Under Nineteen Years on 1st Septemeber

Domestic Matches In England Only

In September 1983 the RFU issued a number of Law Interpretations which were for all who played under the age of nineteen years on 1st September. (These were designed to improve safety and help prevent injury).

These have now been reviewed and revised for 1st September 1997 and should be read in conjunction with the Standard Set of Variations to the Laws of the Game at U19 Level adopted by the I.B.

The Standard Set of Variations and the Law interpretations and changes are indicated.

  1. Any player at any stage in the scrum, ruck or maul who has or causes an opponent to have, his shoulders lower than his hip joint must immediately be penalised by awarding a Free Kick. The object of this interpretation is to try to prevent a collapse of scrum, ruck or maul. It is to help the coach to coach good technique, and the referee to penalise bad technique. Any player who has his shoulders lower than his hip joint can only move downwards unless he has very great strength. The force through the shoulders should be directed forwards and upwards; all players should remain on their feet, thus preventing a pile-up and possible injury.
  2. Law 18: Tackle, lying with on or near the ball.

    It is illegal for any player to wilfully fall on or over a player lying on the ground with the ball in his possession, to wilfully fall on or over players lying on the ground with the ball between them, or in close proximity.

    Penalty:- Penalty kick at the place of infringement.

    Additional Notes to help interpret Law 18

    1. NO advantage shall be played under this Law.
    2. A player is assumed to have fallen wilfully unless the referee is absolutely certain the fall was accidental.
    3. In the very rare instances when the fall is accidental, play must be stopped and a scrummage awarded. The object of this change in interpretation in Law 18 is to keep players on their feet and to prevent them from falling to the ground; thus removing a dangerous area of play. This will create proper rucks and mauls defined as "... players from each team on their feet" (Law 21, ruck: Law 22, maul). Should the correctly formed ruck or maul then collapse, the referee must immediately act to prevent a pile-up from developing.
  3. Play the game for the right reason - first learn how to play skilfully, then apply that skill in order to win.
  4. Seminars, internal courses and working to a regular syllabus are essential steps to proficiency. Players must be adequately prepared for any match.
  5. Mismatches can be avoided by talking to the Coach in charge of the opposition before the game.
  6. Attention must be paid to pre-season preparation. Players need to be fit to play rugby rather than hope to become fit by playing it. Adequate fitness training, including special exercises for the front row, are vital - necks and shoulders need to be strong. The fatigue factor needs careful watching - see RFU publication, "Fitness Training for Rugby".
  7. Tackling is a skill which needs to be taught. See appropriate RFU publications and videos, the RFU Continuum - and Player Safety Pamphlets Nos: 1-8.
  8. No player should be asked to play outside their age group (see RFU Continuum). No player aged 16 and below should be permitted to play against any team in which there are adult players, ie those aged 19 or over. Clubs must exercise great care and close supervision over the playing of those who are 17 but under 19 in adult teams. Refer to Youth Rugby and Junior Rugby Guidelines in the RFU Handbook.
  9. Violence has no place in the game. Any player using their boot against another player, or committing other obvious acts of violence, should be removed from the game by their school or club for a very significant length of time, i.e. for a season.

    A player is assumed to have wilfully used the boot unless the referee is certain that the boot made contact in an accidental manner.

  10. The procedure for replacements and substitutes is there to be used. See Law 3 (4) and Law 3 (13) in the Standard Set of Variations. Up to seven players may be replaced or substituted in matches between teams of schoolchildren or teams where all players are under the age of twenty one. An injury to a player necessitating their removal from the field requires a replacement skilled enough, and fit enough, for that position.
  11. Injuries from pile-ups are often caused by a player refusing to part with the ball. Getting rid of the ball early rather than late makes for a faster and more enjoyable game.
  12. To illustrate these guidelines, see RFU publications/videos listed in the Handbook.
13.(a)
LAW 20(2)		 In the interest of safety, and where thought to be necessary, referees should talk the scrum down through the crouch, touch, pause, engage sequence.
13.(b)
LAW 20(14)(b) 		In the event of one front row being stronger than the other, referees should be mindful to instruct the stronger pack to reduce the power of their shove sufficiently to ensure the opposing front row are able to stay on their feet.
14. LAW 20(5)(a) Referees should be especially vigilant to ensure that the hookers are in a hooking position.
15.
LAW 21(1)
LAW 22(1) 		Rucks and mauls may move forward provided that the players in the ruck and maul are on their feet.
16.
LAW 21(2)(e)
LAW 22(2)(b)		 Referees should be particularly vigilant of any attempt of the team not in possession to collapse the ruck or maul.
17.
LAW 22 NOTE (iii)
LAW 26 (3)(h)		 If a player in a maul goes to the ground including being on one knee or both knees or sitting on the ground, a scrummage is ordered unless the ball is immediately available for the continuation of play.

Charging in an unsafe manner is considered dangerous, and should be penalised under Law 26(3)(h). Particular attention should be paid to the correct body position of players joining the maul (i.e. head and shoulders must be above the hips).

The referee should take Note of the defenceless position of any players in the maul. He should pay close attention to the method of entry into the maul to ensure that defenceless players are not charged unfairly. Players who fail to observe this requirement should be penalised under Law 26(3)(h).

18.
LAW 3(4)
AT UNDER 15 LEVEL ONLY		 By mutual arrangement at under fifteen level only, a player may be replaced for any reason and a player who has been replaced may resume playing but only in the event of an injury to another player.
19.
U15 LAW 24B(3)		 A player is offside if he, being the immediate opponent of the player putting in the ball, takes up a position on or moves beyond the middle line of the scrummage.
20.
LAW 26(4) CAVALRY CHARGE		 One or more players of the attacking team line-up behind the kicker, perhaps spacing themselves across the field in gaps of a metre or two. On a signal from the kicker, one or more of them begins or begin to charge forward. Only when he or they are close to the kicker does he tap kick the ball and pass it to the charging player or players.

This definition should be read in conjunction with IRFB Standard Set of Variations to the Laws of the Game at U19 Level Law 26 NOTE (xiii).
21.
LAW 23B (15) (h)and (i) LINE-OUT SUPPORT
U15 LEVEL ONLY No support/lifting will be allowed in any form of Rugby played at Under 15 level and below, i.e. players must have returned to the ground after jumping before support players may bind.
U16 AND ABOVE However, at Under 16 level and above, SUPPORT (not lifting) may occur in accordance with the Laws of the Game, i.e. players must use their own power to leave the ground and then, and only then, support players may bind on. This bind, however, must be above the waist though it is no longer necessary to have the fingers pointing skywards.

Referees It is appreciated that referees will have to adjust their priorities and approach when they are refereeing at Under 19 level rather than at senior level. We have every confidence they will achieve what is asked of them - if they apply the spirit behind these Law interpretations.