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Communication is key for referees. But do they need to constantly remind players not to break the laws - like Luke Pearce in the Italy v Scotland game? "Scotland / Italy stop!" - when the half-back kicks ahead of the forwards and they keep moving forward. "Use it!"- to the scrum half...

6 Nations. Scotland v England. Score 20 -17, i.e. a successful penalty goal by England would tie the match. Series of scrums close to Scotland's 22, starting at approx, 79 mins but extending beyond 80 mins. England 'won' several consecutive scrums. Pushing Scotland back and /or causing them to...

I ran touch at my local club yesterday in 'wooftie' (gale force) conditions. This gave rise to debate between myself and several supporters about laws which come into play on such days. Firstly - bear with - there were restarts into the wind which travelled 10 metres but were then blown back...

Will you be wearing your tights (or leggings) this weekend?

Several British and Irish Lions greats have called on World Rugby to allow replacements to be made only for injuries to make the sport safer and help prevent the prospect of a player losing his life on the field. (Planet Rugby) I agree with one of their key points about subs. You can have 8 on...

France's first try. Was Dupont's tap forward different from tapping the ball over a defender to regather and score?

Will the case(s) brought by Steve Thompson and others against the Union(s) mean the end of the game as we know it? Every sympathy to anyone suffering from dementia and similar diseases potentially caused by rugby injuries / practices but do players tacitly accept the risks when they take up the...

Watching the restart of Premiership rugby it looks as though teams have found a way of introducing double-banking at line-outs which allows them to set up driving mauls more effectively. The usual barn dance of dummy jumpers, switching position, etc. takes place before the ball is thrown. But...

I volunteer regularly to run touch at local games - it keeps me involved in the sport and provides a little exercise especially trying to keep pace with youthful wingers or toing & froing during kicking ping pong. I try to agree my duties with the match referee before the game but as an...

I volunteered to run touch today for the away team at Stafford v Walsall. During the game there was a late tackle after a defender kicked from his 22 towards touch. The referee awarded a penalty and a YC. However, the location of the penalty was at the place of the tackle rather than where the...

England v Ireland 65 mins. Jonny May makes a break down the right wing. As he approached the 22 he kicks ahead and then is clattered by Henshaw. Peyper sees nothing wrong. Was it obstruction by Henshaw or was he in the process of making a tackle as May kicked? Did Henshaw use his arms in the...