[Ruck] Binding in a ruck

[JonT]

Rule 16.2 (c) states "Placing a hand on another player in the ruck does not constitute binding." yet I see this happening all of the time and being completely ignored. Obviously there is a question of whether the player is gaining any advantage when doing this, but I don't think I have ever seen it penalised.

How are people refereeing this one?

 

[Rushforth]

First of all welcome, and second of all: good question.

The video at http://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=16 shows such a player being told repeatedly to get back, "behind the back foot" can perhaps be assumed.

There is nothing wrong with placing a hand on another player as such. It's just that doing so means the player isn't part of the ruck. No more, no less.

At grassroots, manage it ("back foot number X" at first, you won't have the time to explain "or bind properly from behind the back foot first"). Players "very loosely" binding are doing so in the hope of disrupting the SH as much as any other player off-side.