[Tackle] Tap tackle , or actually no tackle

[Christy]

Red 7 chasing blue 7 ball carrier . From behind.
Red 7 cant quite catch blue 7 for a full on tackle, so dives and taps blue 7 ankle .
They both end up on floor

Blue 7 whilst on floor , turns on floor & presents ball for his support players.
Who are too slow getting there.

Red 7 gets straight up to his feet & approaching from blue side of goal line .
Picks the ball up , about turns & plays on .

Do we allow play to continue.
Or has an offence occurred .
If so what offence ..

 

[crossref]

great question.

no tackle, so play on...

 

[tewdric]

Did he grasp the ankle?

 

[beckett50]

I understand your confusion, in that a tackle has occurred.

However, ask yourself this: "Was the ball carrier held by the tackler when he was brought to ground?"

In the scenario you have described this didn't happen. The BC could have got straight to his feet and carried on running toward the goal line, and the tap tackler can challenge for the ball from any direction because we are still in 'open play'.

 

[Marc Wakeham]

This is where terminoligy missues causes confusion. A tap "tackle" is no such thing. It is:

Striking a player Albeit is a legal manner.
By referring to it as a "Tackle" you are ginving an inference to the tem that brings the tacle law into play which is not true.

As Crossref says PLAY ON. THe "tackled" player could also get up wit hthe ball and continue on his merry way.

 

[Ciaran Trainor]

Good law knowledge by red, play on

 

[CampbelT]

Interesting question, it looks like it should be play on as there is no ruck after a non tackle situation with just one player above the player in the ground....

 

[Phil E]

A shout of "not held, play on" usually suffices after a tap tackle.
Open play still so the red player can approach the ball from any angle.

 

[crossref]

Interesting question, it looks like it should be play on as there is no ruck after a non tackle situation with just one player above the player in the ground....

Actually a ruck CAN form after a non tackle (not in OP example though) .. all it would take is two players closing over the ball

 

[Arabcheif]

CR -I think CampbellT was saying in this scenario that there wouldn't be a ruck formed???