law change thought

Dickie E


Referees in Australia
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
14,106
Post Likes
2,131
Current Referee grade:
Level 2
an International referee told us today at a development meeting that if he could change 1 law, it would be that the referee fed the ball into the scrum. I have some sympathy with this idea. Thoughts?
 

Marc Wakeham


Referees in Wales
Joined
Jan 5, 2018
Messages
2,778
Post Likes
842
Current Referee grade:
Level 2
How does the referee watch everything he else (props / flankers etc) if he is bend down putting the ball in?


This one is not for me.
 

BikingBud


Referees in England
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
708
Post Likes
251
Current Referee grade:
Select Grade
Too much to watch at scrums to have the ref doing other things.

Perhaps 5 m offside lines at rucks?
 

Volun-selected


Referees in America
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
546
Post Likes
301
Location
United States
Current Referee grade:
Level 8
an International referee told us today at a development meeting that if he could change 1 law, it would be that the referee fed the ball into the scrum. I have some sympathy with this idea. Thoughts?
Or they could, I dunno, just enforce the current law?
 

Volun-selected


Referees in America
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
546
Post Likes
301
Location
United States
Current Referee grade:
Level 8
For a new law - “No jumping for the ball on the field of play outside of the lineout or to keep the ball out of touch”. Takes care of a personal bugbear for me.
 

crossref


Referees in England
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
21,804
Post Likes
3,145
For unsuccessful mauls, give the ball to the team going forward
 

buff


Referees in Canada
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
421
Post Likes
70
Current Referee grade:
Select Grade
Too much to watch at scrums to have the ref doing other things.

Perhaps 5 m offside lines at rucks?
I hope not. Offside lines beyond the back foot are easy enough to manage at set pieces, but would be much more difficult in a more dynamic situation.
 

BikingBud


Referees in England
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
708
Post Likes
251
Current Referee grade:
Select Grade
I hope not. Offside lines beyond the back foot are easy enough to manage at set pieces, but would be much more difficult in a more dynamic situation.
And because they are not managed in the dynamic situation it stifles attacking play.

So by moving them to a more obvious 5 meters then encroaching becomes more more obvious and goes the attacking team more scope for creative and attractive play.

Also will get rid of the abomination, the caterpillar.
 

didds

Resident Club Coach
Joined
Jan 27, 2004
Messages
12,031
Post Likes
1,775
And because they are not managed in the dynamic situation it stifles attacking play.

So by moving them to a more obvious 5 meters then encroaching becomes more more obvious and goes the attacking team more scope for creative and attractive play.

Also will get rid of the abomination, the caterpillar.
assuming people can join a ruck that has already formed, it wont.
If they cant join a ruck that has formed then all rucks are now 1 v 1 over the ball. Maybe that is an acceptable idea of course.
 
Last edited:

tim White


Referees in England
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
1,996
Post Likes
254
Said it before;- ignore unintentional fumbles that give no clear advantage (They almost always provide a disadvantage to the fumbler's team)
 

crossref


Referees in England
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
21,804
Post Likes
3,145
Said it before;- ignore unintentional fumbles that give no clear advantage (They almost always provide a disadvantage to the fumbler's team)
I would like to see that trialled
Law change would be that a knock on is not an offence, unless it causes the knocking on team to get an advantage (rare)
 

Lee Lifeson-Peart


Referees in England
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
7,798
Post Likes
999
Current Referee grade:
Level 6
How does the referee watch everything he else (props / flankers etc) if he is bend down putting the ball in?


This one is not for me.
How about. Put the ball on the floor about 500mm from tunnel on loose head side. SHs round the other side. After CBS and stable. Ref sidefoots ball in?
 

Marc Wakeham


Referees in Wales
Joined
Jan 5, 2018
Messages
2,778
Post Likes
842
Current Referee grade:
Level 2
How about. Put the ball on the floor about 500mm from tunnel on loose head side. SHs round the other side. After CBS and stable. Ref sidefoots ball in?
Sorry I thought you were serious for a moment.
 

SimonSmith


Referees in Australia
Staff member
Joined
Jan 27, 2004
Messages
9,335
Post Likes
1,440
I would like to see that trialled
Law change would be that a knock on is not an offence, unless it causes the knocking on team to get an advantage (rare)
Blue 15 knocks on in the 22.
Goes to ground to recover.
A ruck forms over him.

Does that constitute an advantage? His team has recovered possession, but are under defensive pressure.
 

crossref


Referees in England
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
21,804
Post Likes
3,145
Blue 15 knocks on in the 22.
Goes to ground to recover.
A ruck forms over him.

Does that constitute an advantage? His team has recovered possession, but are under defensive pressure.
No, the fumble was to his disadvantage, play on.
 

didds

Resident Club Coach
Joined
Jan 27, 2004
Messages
12,031
Post Likes
1,775
SH reaches into the ruck to grab the ball, knocks on while the ball is still "in" the ruck.

Oppo cant play it - ball in ruck.

SH hasn't been disadvantaged.

presumably that IS a KO?
 
Top