Steflach
Referees in Canada
- Joined
- May 28, 2022
- Messages
- 3
- Post Likes
- 0
- Current Referee grade:
- Level 6
Hi all! First post.
Played for years and now reffing in Canada. This came up at a game recently.
Time was up, so I said “last play before half time” after awarding a penalty. The team in possession wanted to get to half time, and asked if they could kick it out. I said yes, but not directly as that would result in the line out being played (as per the new-ish law on that).
So the kicker taps the ball, and rather than then kicking it out, throws it (backwards) right into touch. It was obviously deliberate, but as this was a pre-season friendly, I blew for half time.
Opposition coach wasn’t happy, said I should have awarded his team a penalty. Now, in my mind I was sure he was correct and I said so, but added that since it was a friendly and a blazing hot day, we could all use the break.
So that night I checked the laws and did some googling. I found this article on this exact thing: https://rugby365.com/laws-referees/law-discussions/law-discussion-throwing-the-ball-away/
However; that law (10.2) in the current law book refers to offside. And I’ve read through the laws repeatedly and can’t find, in the current laws, any reference to throwing or knocking the ball into touch resulting in a penalty. The only related thing I can find is under 18.8 where it says “A player unintentionally knocks, passes or throws the ball into touch.” Sanction here is of course line out to the opposition. But it doesn’t say what happens if the player does this intentionally.
So, my question is this: is the sanction for this a line out, or a penalty? And if it’s a penalty, can someone point me to the law which makes that clear?
Thanks in advance!
Played for years and now reffing in Canada. This came up at a game recently.
Time was up, so I said “last play before half time” after awarding a penalty. The team in possession wanted to get to half time, and asked if they could kick it out. I said yes, but not directly as that would result in the line out being played (as per the new-ish law on that).
So the kicker taps the ball, and rather than then kicking it out, throws it (backwards) right into touch. It was obviously deliberate, but as this was a pre-season friendly, I blew for half time.
Opposition coach wasn’t happy, said I should have awarded his team a penalty. Now, in my mind I was sure he was correct and I said so, but added that since it was a friendly and a blazing hot day, we could all use the break.
So that night I checked the laws and did some googling. I found this article on this exact thing: https://rugby365.com/laws-referees/law-discussions/law-discussion-throwing-the-ball-away/
However; that law (10.2) in the current law book refers to offside. And I’ve read through the laws repeatedly and can’t find, in the current laws, any reference to throwing or knocking the ball into touch resulting in a penalty. The only related thing I can find is under 18.8 where it says “A player unintentionally knocks, passes or throws the ball into touch.” Sanction here is of course line out to the opposition. But it doesn’t say what happens if the player does this intentionally.
So, my question is this: is the sanction for this a line out, or a penalty? And if it’s a penalty, can someone point me to the law which makes that clear?
Thanks in advance!