chbg
Referees in England
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19.11 When both sides are square, stable and stationary, the referee calls “bind”.
a. Each loose-head prop binds by placing the left arm inside the right arm of the opposing tight-head prop.
b. Each tight-head prop binds by placing the right arm outside the left upper arm of the opposing loose-head prop.
c. Each prop binds by gripping the back or side of their opponent’s jersey.
a. Each loose-head prop binds by placing the left arm inside the right arm of the opposing tight-head prop.
b. Each tight-head prop binds by placing the right arm outside the left upper arm of the opposing loose-head prop.
c. Each prop binds by gripping the back or side of their opponent’s jersey.
At a recent out-of-county L7 Exchange the MOD made the following comment:
"He did not monitor, nor control, the high elbow binding of the Red loose head. This illegal binding forced Blue's tight head to bind far higher than he should - thus loosing all strength and power."
His powers of observation are good, but I am not so sure that I have any Law reference on which to base the assertion of illegality. Neither Red's coach nor skipper/hooker accepted it either in discussion in the bar afterwards. The LH did not stay as long as the MOD debrief, so no discussion with him, but I was told that he was an U20 Academy player, so I guess has been coached in that manner. Pertinently, I felt, Blue TH made no comment about it at any stage (and again I had no chance to discuss with him afterwards). Indeed I felt that, apart from once on a 5m scrum (resulting in a Red PT), this was as honest a straight-pushing contest throughout the game from both teams as one could hope to see. I would check for a short bind pulling down, but have not been aware before of having to watch for a bind too high.
Subsequent discussion with the MOD toned down "illegal binding" to "contentious binding" in the final report. So perhaps ...
The MOD made the helpful suggestion that this high binding would be observed from watching the level of the backs of the front rows.
But my queries for the FR experts are:
Is this a binding 'trick' coached at higher levels? Is it somehow illegal/unsafe and should therefore be stopped? Should I try to manage the LH to bind more normally (if I ever see it again)? Or is it up to the TH to counteract?
Thanks.