I ref youth mostly so this applies to when the game gets a bit messy:
In open play, that is, well after a ruck has broken, say its a bad pass and the ball gets kicked around a bit on the ground all within a close area. Ball is picked up and a defending tackler that was in front of the ball then tackles the ball carrier. Is he offside?
All the laws (section 10) I read seem to be more applicable to kicks down field, which I understand.
1) A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes:
a Playing the ball.
b Tackling the ball-carrier.
I also understand this:
9) A player who is offside at a ruck, maul, scrum or lineout remains offside, even after the ruck, maul, scrum or lineout has ended.
Yes, if you are camped out offside during a ruck and the ball is out, you can't make a tackle unless you get on the other side of the ball.
My question is around the loose play when things are not a clean progression from a ruck or maul.
And where does the whole "no offsides in open play" that seems to ring in the back of my brain come from? Is that outdated?
In open play, that is, well after a ruck has broken, say its a bad pass and the ball gets kicked around a bit on the ground all within a close area. Ball is picked up and a defending tackler that was in front of the ball then tackles the ball carrier. Is he offside?
All the laws (section 10) I read seem to be more applicable to kicks down field, which I understand.
1) A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes:
a Playing the ball.
b Tackling the ball-carrier.
I also understand this:
9) A player who is offside at a ruck, maul, scrum or lineout remains offside, even after the ruck, maul, scrum or lineout has ended.
Yes, if you are camped out offside during a ruck and the ball is out, you can't make a tackle unless you get on the other side of the ball.
My question is around the loose play when things are not a clean progression from a ruck or maul.
And where does the whole "no offsides in open play" that seems to ring in the back of my brain come from? Is that outdated?