Why do the same thing in the lower age groups of the high school league my teams compete in. We do so that
there is some clean ball to play with. Why would you extend that to senior age groups? Is there really a safety issue there?
Remember we only have 140,000 players in NZ so we don't have adult players going down several grades in grass roots rugby.
"Senior" and
"Senior Reserve" tend to be populated with adult players of similar levels. From
"Third Grade" down, it tends to be a mix of older experienced players and younger less experienced players.
You shouldn't look at this variation in isolation. Here are all of the Law 20 variations..
[LAWS]1 FORMING A SCRUM
(f) Number of players: eight. A scrum must have eight players from each team. All eight players must stay bound to the scrum until it ends. Each front row must have three players in it, no more and no less. Two locks must form the second row. When a scrum has eight players from each team, the formation must be 3-4-1 with the single player at the back (normally the number 8) packing between the two locks who must pack with their heads either side of the hooker.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
Exception: When a team is reduced to fewer than fifteen players for any reason, then the number of players of each team in the scrum must be similarly reduced. Where a permitted reduction is made by one team, the opposing team must reduce their scrum so that at all times the two scrums contain the same number of players. However, a team must not have fewer than five players in the scrum.
The referee has sole discretion to decide the composition of a scrum if a team is unable to field or continue the match with a complete team.
If a team is incomplete, the scrum formation must be as follows:
If a team is without one player, then both teams must use a 3-4 formation (ie. no No. 8)
If a team is without two players, then both teams must use a 3-2-1 formation (ie. no flankers).
If a team is without three players, then both teams must use a 3-2 formation (ie. only front rows and locks).
Penalty: Penalty Kick
9 SCRUM - GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
(j) No wheeling. A team must not intentionally wheel a scrum.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
If a wheel reaches 45 degrees, the referee must stop play. If the wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped. The team who originally threw in the ball will throw the ball in again.
(k) Maximum 1.5 metres push. A team in a scrum must not push the scrum more than 1.5 metres towards their opponents’ goal line.
Penalty: Free Kick.
(l) Ball must be released from scrum. A player must not intentionally keep the ball in the scrum once the player’s team has heeled the ball and controls it at the base of the scrum.
Penalty: Free Kick
11 SCRUM WHEELED
(a) If a scrum is wheeled through more than 45 degrees, the referee must stop play and order another scrum.
(Please note 9 (j) above)
12 OFF-SIDE AT THE SCRUM
DEFINITION
At a scrum, the off-side line for the scrum halves runs through the middle line of the scrum. For every other player the off-side line is a line 5 metres behind a line running through the hindmost foot of that player’s team in the scrum. If this offside line is on or behind that team’s goal-line the off-side line is the goalline.
The off-side lines are parallel to the goal-lines.
The purpose of the scrum off-side Law is to ensure that, until the scrum ends, the team winning the ball has a clear space in which to make use of it.
(b) Off-side for scrum-halves. When a team has won the ball in a scrum, the scrum-half of that team is off-side if both feet are in front of the middle line while the ball is still in the scrum. If the scrum-half has only one foot in front of the middle line, the scrum-half is not offside.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
(c) When a team has won the ball in a scrum, the scrum-half of the opposing team is off-side if that scrum-half steps in front of the middle line with either foot while the ball is still in the scrum.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
N.Z.R.U. DIRECTIVE
APPLICATION - All levels of Domestic Rugby
It is a team responsibility to advise the referee through the Captain if players are trained to play in the front row. If the referee is advised that a player is not trained to play in the front row, then the referee will apply “Uncontested” scrum laws as specified in Law 3.13(d). However in circumstances where a referee is advised that a player is trained to play in the front row and in the opinion of the referee the player is unable to maintain a suitable and safe body position then the referee must in the interests of player safety apply “Uncontested” scrum laws. This Directive applies to a front row player who started the match or a substitute or replacement front row player.
Penalty: If any of the “Uncontested” scrum laws are not complied with, a penalty kick must be awarded immediately to the nonoffending team.
Contested scrums may be applied in all fixtures refereed by “playing rugby” accredited coaches and registered associate referees in the Under 12 grade and all grades above.
NB. NZRU Registered Associate Referees are permitted to referee contested scrums in accordance with these NZRU DSLV’s as detailed in the foregoing laws.
[/LAWS]
Laws similar to this have been in domestic rugby here for many years. The whole reason for these is to keep the scrum a
"scrum contest for the ball", and not allow it to turn into an
8 v 8 wrestling contest because the NZRU rightly considers that this is when most players at lower levels of the game get injured in scrums.
The less incentive there is to keep the ball in the scrum, the less time the ball will be in it. Keeping the scrum as short as possible without losing the contest aspect helps with the safety of the players
