Law 16 - binding and 'swimming' in the maul

WAKEN


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Looking at the 2021 version of the laws I cannot see anything in law 16 about changing binding during a maul or ‘swimming’. Am I missing something?

Thanks
 

Phil E


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It's not directly written, more inferred.
But it does state you have to be bound to be part of the maul.
If you release your bind you have left, and must rejoin on the hindmost foot.
The definition of bound is in the....definitions.

The laws are not written to legal standards, a lot of what happens is an interpretation of the laws.
However if you go to the World Rugby Laws website and check out the Law Application Guidelines you will find it covered there.
 

Ciaran Trainor


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I'm not sure those clips cover swimming.
To be legal in a maul you must have a full arm bind.
I dont think this stops you legally swimming e.g.
Left arm full bind defending a maul. Maul develops you bind with both arms. Maul continues you release your left arm.
this would seem legit to me, unlikely but legit.
 

Phil E


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Look at the 5 Key Areas of Refereeing guidance.

  • A player may not unbind or use a sliding bind to go around a maul.
 

number11


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Check the video for mauls in the 5 Key Areas of Refereeing.

The guy coming through the middle is clearly not binding on anyone. Easy penalty.


I agree with ctrainor in theory about switching arms, but I can't see this tactic being effective in a game.
 

Phil E


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I agree with ctrainor in theory about switching arms, but I can't see this tactic being effective in a game.
I would suggest it's impossible to do that while maintaining a complete bind "with the whole arm from hand to shoulder"...which is why swimming gets penalised.
 

Marc Wakeham


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Check the video for mauls in the 5 Key Areas of Refereeing.

The guy coming through the middle is clearly not binding on anyone. Easy penalty.


I agree with ctrainor in theory about switching arms, but I can't see this tactic being effective in a game.
Law 16.10?
 

Volun-selected


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I'm not sure those clips cover swimming.
To be legal in a maul you must have a full arm bind.
I dont think this stops you legally swimming e.g.
Left arm full bind defending a maul. Maul develops you bind with both arms. Maul continues you release your left arm.
this would seem legit to me, unlikely but legit.
interesting blog post from Nick Bishop about ‘legal’ plays on the outside of the maul (and now modified for the ruck) that are very disruptive to the team in possession along with some supporting video clips (and the players never loose their bind). If the tactic proves effective then I suspect we’ll see it percolate down to the roots level games.

Why Rugby is creeping into the grey area at ruck and maul
 
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