RFU Referee Education 08-09 Experimental Law Variations

RFU Referee Education

08-09 Experimental Law Variations

Experimental Law Variations 2008-09



Dave BroadwellReferee Development Manager

South East Region

[email protected]

07802 435745

mailto:[email protected]




Ed TurnillReferee Development Officer

South East Region

[email protected]

07894 783 373

mailto:[email protected]


This is a presentation on the new laws, not a discussion on the rights, wrongs, merits or otherwise of their introduction

• Start Date 1st August 2008

• Do not forget existing law!

• Must be read/applied in conjunction with existing law



Law 6 – The Assistant Referee

• A name change for the Touch Judge

• Merely affirms what ‘appointed1’ touch judges are already asked to do by the referee



1 by match organiser, iRB, RFU, Referee Federation/Society... etc.

Law 17 – The Maul

Current Law applies except

• No longer illegal for head and shoulders to be lower than hips

• Players are able to defend a maul by pulling AN OPPONENT down.

RFU Ruling (Not at under 19 and below)


Place photo here


Law 17 – The Maul


• A defender MUST grasp an opposing player anywhere between shoulders & hips and then pull that player to the ground

• If a maul is brought down by any other action, it is regarded as a collapse and therefore illegal and this must be applied rigorously by referees

• Accidental offside/offside

• Present Law must not be ignored, particularly side entry (by either side)

• Key words – “pulled down” (play on), “collapsed” (penalty) and “unsuccessful” (turnover)



Law 19 – Touch & line-Out

• No gain in ground if ball put back into 22 and then kicked directly into touch

• No restrictions on numbers of either team in lineout

• At formation receiver must stand 2 metres from lineout

• Receiver cannot move until the ball leaves the thrower’s hands



Law 19 – Touch & Line-Out

Opponent opposite thrower into line

• must stand in area between 5 metre line and touch and 2 metres from the 5 metre line

• cannot move until ball leaves thrower’s hands

• Quick throw can be straight or towards the thrower’s own goal line but must still travel beyond the 5 metre line

• Pre-gripping in line now permitted (allowing for existing Law variations at U15 and below)

• Lifting in line-out now permitted. (not at under 15 or below - exception County matches)



Law 19 – Touch & line-Out

The lifting of lineout players is now permitted

• Remain conscious of where pre-gripping occurs

• Remain strict on:

• “dummy” jumping by attacking and defending side

• early lift by defenders and attackers

• jumping/stepping into the gap

• management of the throw in

• “Sacking” (ball carrier) still legal



Law 20 – The Scrum


• Offside line 5 metres behind hindmost foot of the scrum

• Defined lines offside lines for scrum half


Place photo here


Finally... Law 22 - Corner Posts

• No longer touch in goal except when the ball is grounded against the post




Thank you for your attention

Documents

RFU Referee Education 08-09 Experimental Law Variations