Hand-off heights

[didds]

The ball carrier has virtually no choice when a tackler comes in low. As long as he does not deliver a fend as a sort of punch, I see no problem.

The tackler has multiple choices. if he choses to go high and makes contact with the head, that is at his own risk of foul play.

I don't disagree at all.

I _think_ what others are alluding to is when the tackler chooses to come in high, and the ball carrier's fend is to the tackler's head/chin/throat/neck/face, with force.

And if it isnt what they meant then I'll ask that, in the interests of clarity.

didds

 

[Marc Wakeham]

The two situations are NOT equivalent. Therefore they do NOT require exactly the same treatment.

I'm not arguing for "exactly the same treatment". Defining something as "foul play" still allows for latitude: PK only, PK +YC or PK+ RC.

A 6 foot 7 second row faced with trying to tackle a 5 foot 7 scrum half Faces similar problem to your Fijian. But he's still not allowed to make contact with the head.

 

[OB..]

[...]

A 6 foot 7 second row faced with trying to tackle a 5 foot 7 scrum half Faces similar problem to your Fijian. But he's still not allowed to make contact with the head.

To be clear: are you saying the 5'7" scrum half ball carrier is not allowed to fend against the 6'7" second row who is coming low by placing a hand on the top of his head?

 

[Phil E]

Either ban contact with the head full stop. OR allow contact and leave the referee to decide as to whether it should be considered dangerous play.

I _think_ what others are alluding to is when the tackler chooses to come in high, and the ball carrier's fend is to the tackler's head/chin/throat/neck/face, with force.

The referee already decides on whether a Hand-off is dangerous/foul play?

If the Fend is with force, that is foul play and can be dealt with by a PK and (if neccesary) a card.

[LAWS]Law 9 Foul Play
24. A ball-carrier is permitted to hand off an opponent provided excessive force is not used.
Sanction: Penalty.[/LAWS]

 

[thepercy]

For the fairness crowd

New law proposal:

Any player may make contact with their opponents head and/or neck, as long as it's done with the palm of the hand and is not a strike or excessive force is not used. All head and neck contact is forbidden for U19 players regardless of use of palm and force used.

I think it would be rare and ineffective to use this type of action in a tackle, but for fairness sake.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

To be clear: are you saying the 5'7" scrum half ball carrier is not allowed to fend against the 6'7" second row who is coming low by placing a hand on the top of his head?

Apologies. The other way round makes more sense.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

The referee already decides on whether a Hand-off is dangerous/foul play?

If the Fend is with force, that is foul play and can be dealt with by a PK and (if neccesary) a card.

[LAWS]Law 9 Foul Play
24. A ball-carrier is permitted to hand off an opponent provided excessive force is not used.
Sanction: Penalty.[/LAWS]

True. but the referee always did that with tackles But WR still felt the need to outlaw acts specifically. Contact wit hthe head was specifically outlawed but not in repect of the hand off.

For me it is odd tht we exclude a deliberate act by the ball carrier and not by the tackler. Still them's the laws we work within.

 

[Greig]

For the fairness crowd

New law proposal:

Any player may make contact with their opponents head and/or neck, as long as it's done with the palm of the hand and is not a strike or excessive force is not used. All head and neck contact is forbidden for U19 players regardless of use of palm and force used.

I think it would be rare and ineffective to use this type of action in a tackle, but for fairness sake.

Fair call. To outlaw a ball carrier from fending to the head would be unworkable, since it would be so difficult to fend and avoid the head, it would effectively outlaw the fend.

Edit: Although I sit in the camp that sees no real problem with the current laws. Consistency is a good thing, sure. But trying to make the laws black and white is never going to happen.