On Target, With The Biffer!

A video clip from NERFU 2005

2006-09-27T09:37:00.000-04:00

"In Straight, and Shut it!"

2006-07-21T10:14:00.000-04:00

On Target - Volume 4 "In straight, and Shut it!"

There were recently some changes at the IRB’s Dublin Headquarters, and the most notable was the appointment of Paddy O’Brien (a Kiwi despite the Irish name). O’Brien was widely regarded as one of the top referees until his recent retirement, and his appointment is a sign that the IRB want someone in place who can really work on clarifying laws and their application in a modern way.

Over the course of recent years certain areas of the game have adapted, some due to the advent of professionalism at the top levels, and some simply the evolution of the game. As the sport of rugby develops it will always be influenced by outside forces, and other sports, some of this positive and some less so.

Since his appointment O’Brien has talked about redirecting rugby back where it should be, and putting a true emphasis on playing the game within the laws. His two major issues, which will be areas you should expect to see referees paying more attention to, are scrum put in, and “backchat”.

Scrums
The laws are simple. The ball must be placed in straight down the middle of the tunnel, and both hookers must wait until the ball is put in before they strike for it. It sounds very simple, yet somehow the scrums in many matches are beginning to resemble the absolute farce that is Rugby League scrummages.
So expect to be required to produce “credible” scrum feeds going forward.

Backchat
To quote O’Brien: "There is nothing in the law book that says players have the right to make comments to a referee. It is a privilege on their part, but sadly it has been abused.

"Half the time, players or captains are complaining simply to stop the other side taking a quick penalty. It is slowing the game up and has to be tackled.

"In fact, the law book says that players must not do anything make a decision, and players need to play within the boundaries that the referee’s decisions set. You may not agree, you may think he/she has missed something (it’s possible considering there’s only one of them out there), but the continual barrage of questions is likely to be frowned upon going forward. This includes captains feeling the need to question every single decision.

As always you may find slight differences in the tolerance of an individual referee. This is one of the beauties of Rugby, the laws are applied by a solitary official, working with 30 players, and very occasionally 2 qualified touch judges. Unlike American Football/Gridiron, where there is a massive team of referees to apply the rules of that game to the letter, Rugby allows for some flexibility.

Until next time, play the whistle, and enjoy yourselves.

That’s the reason you are out there in the first place!

"Give him the slipper!" - - - or maybe not!

2006-07-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

On Target - Volume 3 "Give him the slipper!" - - - or maybe not!

One of the things that has always made rugby different from other sports was the ability (in certain situations) for the players to regulate certain phases of the game. In particular the ruck situation, where attacking players were often seen to stamp on opposing players to clear them out of the way.

This has changed, and recent directives from the IRB will see referees being encouraged to be stricter on this.

Now it is important to make a distinction between "TV Rugby", and the rugby at the level we are dealing with. As much as it may seem to be somewhat of a dichotomy, the referees on TV will be taking charge of a higher level match and will be looser on some interpretations. There is also a level of pressure on them to allow the game to play on in the manner that the viewers expect.

In the NERFU division of USA Rugby we are dealing with amateur players, who have a massively varied amount of experience and skill. Therefore the emphasis is placed on SAFETY before anything else.

The law previously used to describe moving the foot backwards, and gave some guidelines as to acceptable behavior. However the law now reads as follows:

Ruck Section
Law 16 3 - (f) A player rucking for the ball must not ruck players on the ground. A player rucking for the ball tries to step over players on the ground and must not intentionally step on them. A player rucking must do so near the ball. Penalty: Penalty Kick for dangerous play .
Foul Play Section
Law 10 4- (b) Stamping or trampling. A player must not stamp or trample on an opponent. Penalty: Penalty Kick

Now this should not be complicated. It is simply stated. However the "understanding" in the past has been that if someone is on your side of the ruck that they are fair game, and then you hear shouts of "Shoe him!" or "Give him the slipper" (many others spring to mind too).

This has changed. The IRB have asked referees to be strict on this. As a result you should expect to be penalized for this sort of play, as long as the referee is playing tightly to these guidelines. In addition ref's are being encouraged to step up the "preventative" refereeing, which means that you may see quick penalties when someone comes over the top of a ruck, or appears to not be rolling away from the ball on the ground. This might mean less advantage being played, but the idea is to get players in the mindset of not infringing on the ground, and to prevent those players from a potentially dangerous stamping incident.

As always you have to accept that each referee will play this phase of play differently, but the assumption should be that you will be aggressively penalized for infringing on the ground, and even more severely penalized if you raise a boot to a player on the ground. This includes yellow cards being presented faster than you might expect, and also red cards given for stamping that you might previously have expected would be acceptable.

Any questions on the referee's management of this should be raised before kickoff, through your captain and during the safety talk. As always do not expect that second guessing him during the match will be particularly productive!

“Hands Out Gold!”

2006-07-21T10:12:00.000-04:00

On Target - Volume 2 “Hands Out Gold!”

One of the most contentious parts of the game, an area of transition between phases of play, is the tackle to ruck situation. (This is different from a maul situation which will be covered at a later date)

The Key laws to remember here are those covering a tackle, and those covering a ruck.

Law 15 - Tackle: Ball-Carrier Brought to the Ground

DEFINITION: A tackle occurs when a ball-carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to the ground. A ball-carrier who is not held is not a tackled player and a tackle has not taken place. Opposition ploayers who hold the ball-carrier and bring that player to ground and also go to ground are known as tacklers. Opposition players who hold the ball-carrier and do not go to ground are not tacklers.

Law 16 - Ruck

DEFINITIONS: A ruck is a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet, in physical contact, close around the ball on the ground. Open play has ended. Rucking. Players are rucking when they are in a ruck and using their feet to try to win or keep possession of the ball, without being guilty of foul play.

The laws as a whole can be seen by following this link IRB.

In theory a ruck would appear to be very simple. Ball on the ground, players from each side driving to gain possession, nobody reaching for the ball until it emerges.

The reality of a ruck is very different. Bodies of the former ball carrier and the tacklers will litter the base of the ruck, and rucking players may find it hard to resist reaching for the ball.

The key thing to remember, is that it is not a ruck until a player from each team are engaged over the ball (and tackled players). So if a tackle has been made, and a solitary player arrives, he may play it.

Laws 15.6 (b) After a tackle players on their feet may attempt to gain possession by taking the ball from the ball carrier's possession. (c) At a tackle or near to a tackle, other players who play the ball must do so from behind the ball and from behind the tackled player or the tackler closest to those players’ goal-line. So the first player there, assuming he is coming from his own side, may pick up the ball. If the tackled player holds on then he is liable to be penalized. The transition occurs when an opposing player arrives. If this player engages the first player before possession is gained, then this becomes a ruck, and it is no longer acceptable to play the ball with hands.

Law 16.4(b) governs the use of hands. “Players must not handle the ball in a ruck” This would seem a simple concept, however with the mass of bodies involved in a ruck it is often necessary for the scrum half (or “dummy half” if scrum half is not available, to reach in and grab the ball. Probably the best way to view the literal application of the ruck laws would be as follows :

Only hands in the ruck to be those of the scrum-half (or acting scrum-half if scrum half not available), and then only when the ball is clearly visible from the back of the ruck and has been won the the scrum-halfs own team. All movement of the ball to be the product of gravity or feet from players in a standing, (approximately stationary) position forming part of the ruck.

Conclusion:Simply put, if you arrive on your own, grab the ball and play it, but if opponents are present then aim to drive them away from the ball.

"Get Behind the Ropes! "

2006-07-21T09:56:00.000-04:00

On Target – Volume 1 "Get Behind the Ropes! "

Each week you will probably notice ropes being assembled along the sides of the pitches that you are playing on. These seem like an extra chore for the home team, and invariably one by one people just step in front of them to get a closer view.

It should be mentioned that these ropes (or whatever barrier is there) are a requirement under the laws of the game, laid out by the IRB, and a mandate issued by USA Rugby and NERFU underlines this. All spectators, but also all players who are not currently taking part in the match MUST be behind these ropes. Additionally coaches and water carriers must be behind the ropes. Some referees may relent and permit one coach in front, but they are not under any obligation to do so.

The reason for this are as follows:

Management of the game.

The referee needs a clear line of sight along his touchlines, and the touch judges need to able to clearly see, and run freely without the risk of clattering into someone when they are sprinting down the side chasing a kick.

Clarity of players.

It is difficult for the referee, and also the defensive team, to distinguish who is playing if there are a large group of people right along the side of the pitch, dressed in the uniforms of one team. On occasion players have even attempted to make a scoring pass to a non player who they spotted out of the corner of their eye.

Line of sight for spectators. If everyone is behind a rope, then everyone is accorded a clear view. As tempting as it may be to step 5 meters closer by crossing the rope, in reality it should be noted that your view does not improve in any way by being an extra 5 meters closer.

Safety and Legal Issues.

This is the biggest issue of them all. The home team is legally required to rope off the playing area. The referee is obliged to make certain everyone is behind these ropes. This is purely for the safety of the players, the officials, and the spectators. A few years back Westbury Rugby Club in England nearly had to close and cease to exist due to an incident.

A spectator was standing too close to the pitch, and a player was tackled into him. The spectator suffered multiple breaks of his leg and knee joints. This required major surgery and rehabilitation. The spectator then decided to sue the club to recoup his monetary losses. As we all know, very few rugby clubs have a ready source of cash for issues like this, and the liability insurance would not cover it as the club had not insisted on roping off the pitch and maintaining a distance between players and spectators. If something like this could occur in England, you can imagine the potential fallout in a country as litigious as the United States!

So keep this in mind the next time a referee of touch judge asks you to step behind the ropes. They are not trying to abuse their power. They are not trying to annoy. The request is simply being made to improve the game, and to ensure everyone is safe.