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RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

colm_ose — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:09:38 GMT

Alain rolland seemed to be using the old ruck interpretations in the Lions - Emerging Boks game on tuesday. His interpretation certainly didn't seem to me to fit with the other refs so far on tour.

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

Red & Black fan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:16:12 GMT

Sadly, at schools, community & amateur club level it WILL be chaos!... I love how the iRB makes Law changes and re-interpretations for the professional game but cant be bothered to focus on building capacity in terms of referees & coaches at grassroots where the fans who pay their salaries through bums on seats, merchandise & pay Tv are... the cop out is to say 'its up to the Unions'- when will they realise that they need to look after the grassroots to grow & maintain the game?

RE: the topic- the area to focus on from a coaching perspective may be getting your players to ruck more efficiently on their own ball (i.e. arrive at the breakdown first, stay on feet & clear opponents out) rather than worrying about getting bogged down with trying to interpret the law. From a defending/ turnover perspective, your players must just stay on their feet & compete as before because it will remain a bit of a lottery there-90% of refs including at elite level have NO clue about it anyway! ;-)

Goiod luck to us ALL!

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

didds — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:02:42 GMT

as its an IRB law interpretation one presumes so, yes.

Of course, if refs do not belong to a society, or ignore their society newsletters, information and don;t attend meetings then it will be chaos...

didds

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

colm_ose — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:37:51 GMT

Has this come in at all levels?

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

Ruckoff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:48:56 GMT

Quote from David Wallace regarding the new ruck interpretation before the Sharks game.

“There is a big onus on me, but also on every other player on the pitch. There are only so many rucks you can be involved in, so it is something for the whole team to concentrate on,” said Wallace.

“Everyone has the ability to steal the ball or slow it down for the opposition. The fact you can now get in there and stay there means it doesn’t really matter what jersey number you are wearing

“It certainly is a lot more difficult area than it was since they made the law change. In some ways it is a good ruling because the exponents who can get in there, can fight for the ball and stay on their feet get the chance to try to rob some ball.

“Before, it could be an easy out for the referee to shout ‘it’s a ruck, hands away’. Now the onus is on the opposition to actually get rid of the player.

“If he is on his feet, then he is legal. It makes things a bit harder and is quite a mind shift in terms of how you approach the game and get numbers there.”

“You have to ride the referees and see what you can get away with. You have to react on the pitch,” said Wallace.

“It is not just about numbers at the breakdown, but about quality and what you do when you are there. If you get it right you shouldn’t need more than two or three players.”

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

didds — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:04:17 GMT

my understanding is.. (and may well be wrong of course!) that this is NOT only the tackler that can do this.

As long as the ball claimer fulfills all other areas of the law (e.g. tackler has regained feet/other arrivals come through the gate) then as long as no ruck has yet formed they can handle the ball with subsequent immunity.

As an aside, quite how the IRB came up with this "hands on allowed" interpretation from the laws as writ totally defeats me. YMMV.

didds

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

Gary — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:32:13 GMT

Chaps,

Going back to the 'new' interpretation of the tackler at the ruck. Am I right in believing:

i) The tackler can continue to compete for the ball at any point during a ruck so long as he is on his feet and the ball is in possession of an opponent?
ii)The tackler can do so even if he initially went to ground in the tackle, but then got back to his feet before competing for the ball
iii) If the ball is in the ruck and not in possession of a tackled player, the tackler cannot attempt to handle the ball?

Cheers

RE: New ruck interpretation from iRB

Ruckoff — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:11:37 GMT

The new ruck interpretation is enforce for all new games/tournaments. Will Greenwood mentioned it during the Golden Lions game. I too would have expected more mention of this significant change.

In the Cheethas game, Heinrich Broussow was stealing the ball when a ruck had been formed but had hands on prior to opposition players arriving. Wayne Barnes allowed this to happen, presumably under the new interpretation.

Heinrich Broussow also did alot of illegal stuff, just like a good openside should!!.

It also seems to me that the referees are pinging players for not releasing more frequently - maybe this is due to the fact that they can't ping the tackler for hands in the ruck anymore if he is on his feet and was challenging for the ball before the opposition can form a ruck?

Last season, I feel the the most dramatic effect on the laws (even though it was not a change) was not the elvs but referees enforcing the law that players have to stay on their feet at the breakdown and not dive over killing the ball.

I think this new law will take time to fully filter in to the game but when it does (along with players having to stay on their feet) it will make the breakdown more competitive and a better spectacle too.

The breakdown will always be a difficult area to police and open to interpretation but I think the new rulings will help referees in this area.

New ruck interpretation from iRB

Chunky Charvis — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:42:59 GMT

Basically "hands on" from a player on his feet after a tackle is allowed to keep hands on ball even if ruck does form.

I thought this was to be in force from May 23rd? Haven't seen much evidence of it being applied much in the Lions game so far?

New ruling on the tackle area

May 13, 2009, 8:07 am
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, ELVs, Rugby Refereeing | Tags: IRB, ruck, tackle area

Here is the latest ruling on the tackle area from the IRB:

Ruling Request from the NZRU and ARU Laws 15 and 16

Law 15 6 (b) states:
After a tackle any players on their feet may attempt to gain possession by taking the ball from the ball carrier’s possession.

Law 16.1 (b) states:
How can a ruck form? Players are on their feet. At least one player must be in physical contact with an opponent. The ball is on the ground.

Law 16.4 (b) states:
(b) Players must not handle the ball in a ruck.

When a player has complied with Law 15 6 (b), is on his feet and playing the ball after a tackle and is then joined by an opposition player on his feet so that the situation outlined in 16 1 (b) occurs, can the player who has complied with Law 15 6 (b) continue to play the ball with his hands or at what point does he have to release the ball? This does not appear to be covered by Law.

Ruling

Law 15 6 (a) states: After a tackle, all other players must be on their feet when they play the ball.

Law 15.6 (b) reads: After a tackle any player on their feet may attempt to gain possession by taking the ball from the ball carriers possession.

Law 15 5 (e) states that: If opposition players who are on their feet, the tackled player must release the ball. This indicates that after a tackle a player on his feet may play the ball.

Law 16 1 (b) states: How can a ruck form? Players are on their feet. At least one player must be in physical contact with an opponent. The ball is on the ground.

Law 16.1 refers to a player from each side in physical contact over the ball and implies that the ball is not in the possession of any player.

Providing a player from either side on their feet after a tackle comply with all aspects of Law 15 and have the ball in their hands prior to contact with an opposition player on his feet those players may continue with possession of the ball even if a player from the opposition makes contact with those players in possession of the ball.

Any other players joining the two players contesting the ball must not handle the ball in accordance with Law 16.4 (b). If the ball is not in possession of any player after a tackle and a ruck is formed players may not use their hands in accordance with Law 16.4 (b).