Rugby Football Union - Refereeing Detail

YOUTH RUGBY LAW VARIATIONS U13 to U19

ADDITIONS TO CONTINUUM TO INCORPORATE LAW INTERPRETATIONS/

VARIATIONS FOR ALL WHO PLAY AND MANAGE (I.E. COACHES,

REFEREES, ETC.) PLAYERS AGED UNDER 18 ON 1ST SEPTEMBER

DOMESTIC MATCHES IN ENGLAND ONLY

This extract is taken from the Continuum

AGE GRADED LAWS, INTERPRETATIONS/VARIATIONS

In September 1983 the RFU first issued a number of Law Interpretations which were for all who played under the age of nineteen years on 1st September. (These were designed to improve safety and help revent injury.)

From November 2001 these have been reviewed and revised and should be read in conjunction with The LAWS OF THE GAME OF RUGBY UNION, written by the International Rugby Board. (IRB)

Definition:

Junior rugby is now regarded as for all who play in teams identified as aged between under13 and under 18.

No player involved in a match at any age level from under 18 downwards shall use in training or in a match the technique known or referred to as Squeezeball.

No person involved in the teaching or coaching of the Game may teach or coach players involved in a match at any age level from under 18 downwards or encourage such players to use the technique known or referred to as Squeezeball.

Note:Squeezeball is a technique where the ball carrier goes to ground head forward (touching or close to the ground, irrespective of immediate contact with opponents) usually keeping parallel to the touchline, holding and protecting the ball close to the chest and, when on the ground, pushes the ball back between the legs.

Penalty: Penalty Kick.

Any player at any stage in the scrum, ruck or maul who has or causes an opponent to have, his shoulders lower than his hip joint must immediately be penalised by awarding a Free Kick.

The object of this interpretation is to try to prevent a collapse of scrum, ruck or maul. It is to help the coach to coach good technique, and the referee to penalise bad technique. Any player who has his shoulders lower than his hip joint can only move downwards unless he has very great strength. The force through the shoulders should be directed forwards and upwards; all players should remain on their feet, thus preventing a pile-up and possible injury.

Law 15: Tackle, lying with on or near the ball.

It is illegal for any player to wilfully fall on or over a player lying on the ground with the ball in his possession, to wilfully fall on or over players lying on the ground with the ball between them, or in close proximity.

Penalty: Penalty kick at the place of infringement.

Additional Notes to help interpret Law 15:

No advantage shall be played under this Law

A player is assumed to have fallen wilfully unless the referee is absolutely certain the fall was accidental

In the very rare instances when the fall is accidental, play must be stopped and a scrummage awarded. The object of this change in interpretation in Law 15 is to keep players on their feet and to prevent them from falling to the ground; thus removing a dangerous area of play. This will create proper rucks and mauls defined as "players from each team on their feet" (Law 16, ruck; Law 17, maul). Should the correctly formed ruck or maul then collapse, the referee must immediately act to prevent a pile-up from developing.

Play the game for the right reason, first learn how to play skilfully, then apply that skill in order to win.

Seminars, internal courses and working to a regular syllabus are essential steps to proficiency. Players must be adequately prepared for any match.

Mismatches can be avoided by talking to the Coach in charge of the opposition before the game.

Attention must be paid to pre-season preparation.

Players need to be fit to play rugby rather than hope to become fit by playing it. Adequate fitness training, including special exercises for the front row, are vital; necks and shoulders need to be strong. The fatigue factor needs careful watching;see RFU publication, "Fitness Training for Rugby".

Tackling is a skill that needs to be taught. See appropriate RFU publications and videos, the RFU Continuum and Player Safety Pamphlets No1-9. For up to date products contact www.rfu.com or e-mail refereeinfo@rfu.com.

No player should be asked to play outside his or her age group (see RFU Continuum). NO PLAYER AGED 16 AND BELOW SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO PLAY AGAINST ANY TEAM IN WHICH THERE ARE ADULT PLAYERS i.e. THOSE AGED 19 YEARS OR OVER.

Clubs must exercise great care and close supervision over the playing of those who, although 17, are eligible to play in adult teams.

Violence has no place in the game. Any player using their boot against another player, or committing other obvious acts of violence, should be removed from the game by their school or club for a very significant length of time. Disciplinary results should be forwarded to the local Constituent Body.

Injuries from pile-ups are often caused by a player refusing to part with the ball. Getting rid of the ball early rather than late makes for a faster and more enjoyable game.

UNDER 13

13.1 Playing time not to exceed 25 minutes each way with a size 4 ball.

13.2. Teams will be made up of fifteen players, eight of whomwill be forwards, with the remaining seven forming the backs.

The hand off/fend off is now permitted.

13.4. Kicking the ball on the ground (often called fly hacking) is now permitted.

LAW 20 SCRUM

In an eight-person scrum the formation must be 3-4-1, with the single player (normally the number 8) ushing on the 2 locks.

The locks are now permitted to bind between the legs of the props with their outside arms.

Exception: A team may have fewer than eight players in its scrum when either the team cannot field a complete team, or a player is sent off for foul play, or a player has to leave the field because of injury.

Even allowing for this exception, each team must always have at least five players in a scrum and both scrums must always be equal in numbers.

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 (i.e. no No.8).

If a team is without tow players, then both teams must use a 3-2-1 formation (i.e. no flankers).

If a team is without three players, then both teams must use a 3-2 formation (i.e. only front rows and locks).

When a normal scrum takes place, the players in the three front-row positions and the two lock positions must have been suitably trained for those positions.

If a team cannot field such suitably trained players because: either they are not available, or a player in one of those five positions is injured or has been sent off for Foul Play and no suitably trained eplacement is available, then the referee must order uncontested scrums.

In an uncontested scrum, the teams do not compete for the ball. The team putting in the ball must win it. Neither team is allowed to push the other team away from the mark.

The ball must be played by the hindmost player in the scrum without delay.

Penalty: Free Kick.

Front rows coming together: In the interest of safety, and where thought to be necessary referees should talk the scrum down through the crouch, touch, pause, engage sequence. Each prop touches the pponent's upper arm and then pause before the front rows meet.

No wheeling. A team must not intentionally wheel a scrum.

Penalty: Penalty Kick.

If a wheel reaches 45 degrees, the referee must stop play. Ifthe wheel is unintentional, the referee orders another scrum at the place where the scrum is stopped.

There is noturnover law at U18, if scrums are reset for wheeling beyond 45 degrees the throw-in remains with the original throwing in side.

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.

The scrum-half not throwing the ball into the scrum may remain directly alongside his opponent. He must not move beyond the middle line of the scrum until the ball has emerged from the scrummage or an opponent has placed his hands on the ball. In the event of a strike against the head, the scrum-half who has thrown the ball into the scrummage is similarly restricted in not following the ball.

Penalty: Penalty Kick.

Safety: In the event of one front row being stronger than the other, referees should be mindful to instruct the stronger pack to reduce the power of their shove sufficiently to ensure the opposing front row are able to stay on their feet.

Safety: Referees should be vigilant to ensure that hookers are in hooking position.

Penalty: Free kick .

THE LINE-OUT

LAW 19

Minimum numbers. At least two from each side.

Penalty: Free kick.

Maximum numbers. The team throwing in the ball decides the maximum number of players forming the line-out.

Penalty: Free Kick.

The line-out extends from 5 metres in from touch to 15 metres in-field and parallel with the touchline. Lifting/supporting is prohibited at this age group, i.e. a player may not bind to a jumper until he/she has returned to the ground.

Penalty: Penalty Kick.

There is no longer a requirement to peel close to and parallel with the line-out.

REPLACEMENTS

Up to seven replacements. Any number of substitutions or replacements by mutual agreement.

UNDER 14

No changes from under 13

UNDER 15

As per under 13 and 14 plus:

15.1. Playing time not to exceed 30 minutes each way playing with a size five ball. After 60 minutes of playing time, the referee must not allow extra time to be played in the case of a drawn match in a knock-out match.

UNDER 16, 17 AND 18

16.1. Playing time not to exceed 35 minutes each way playing with a size five ball. After 70 minutes of playing time, the referee must not allow extra time to be played in the case of a drawn match in a knock-out match.

THE LINE OUT

Players may now pre grip a team-mate but not below the waist.

Penalty: Free Kick

A player must not support a jumping team-mate below the shorts from behind or below the thighs from the front.

Penalty: Penalty Kick.

Players who support a jumping team-mate must lower that player to the ground as soon as the ball has been won by a player of either team.

Penalty: Free Kick.

REPLACEMENTS

Maximum seven.

If a team nominates 22 players, it must have at least six players who can play in the front row in order that there is replacement cover for the loose-head prop, hooker and tight-head prop.