Weekly Law Questions - Week 3

FOUL PLAY THEME

Have a go! Support your answers with relevant Law Reference and Sanction. Answers will be listed in next week's Law Questions.

Referees - bring your answers to your local evening sessions next week for discussion.

Thanks to Graeme Meyrick for compiling. Want to get in touch to discuss law? Contact meyrick@xtra.co.nz

  1. A defender is penalised for punching for which the referee issues a yellow card. Before the kick is taken this defender is guilty of further misconduct. What sanction must the referee apply?

  2. While play is in progress a defender in touch punches an attacker also in touch. This occurs in line with the 22. Play stops when the ball goes into touch 5 metres from the defender’s goal line. The referee admonishes the defender and awards a penalty.

  3. The ball has gone into touch. The referee then observes an incident of foul play near the centre of the field and awards a penalty. Where is the mark for the penalty?

  4. Two opponents are running for the ball jostling shoulder-to-shoulder. What should the referee rule?

  5. An AR signals Foul Play. At the next stoppage in play the AR reports to the referee that a Red player shoulder charged a Blue player and that the Blue player retaliated by punching the Red player. What action should the referee take?

  6. A player who is onside and standing at the offside line, prevents an opponent from tackling the ball carrier. What should the referee rule?

  7. At a penalty an attacker takes a quick tap and runs forward intentionally into a retiring defender in an attempt to be awarded a further penalty. What does the referee rule?

  8. At a penalty the ball is tap kicked and passed to a teammate who drives forward. Immediately team-mates bind each side of the ball carrier in a wedge formation. Is this action permitted?

  9. At a ruck the scrum-half of the team in possession is gesturing wildly and remonstrating for a penalty. Should the referee penalise this player for dissent?

Week 2 - ANSWERS

1. What can the process designed to protect the head, neck and throat area (“Head Contact”) of players be applied to?

  • High tackles
  • Shoulder charges
  • Dangerous cleanouts
  • Head-to-head collisions
  • Leading elbow / forearm

 

2. With regard to head contact, what considerations should be taken into account when determining whether or not foul play has occurred?

  • Intentional
  • Reckless
  • Avoidable

 

3. What is abuse?

It can be physical or verbal – physical abuse includes biting, punching, contact with the eye(s), striking with the hand and/or arm, head or knees, stamping, trampling, kicking or tripping (Law 9.12)

 

4. How must a player not tackle an opponent?

· Early, late or dangerously – dangerous tackling includes tackling above the shoulder line (Law 9.13)

 

5. When can a player be pushed, held, and/or obstructed?

· At a scrum, ruck or maul (Law 9.15)

 

6. How must a player charge or knock down an opponent?

· By attempting to grasp the opponent (Law 9.16)

 

7. What is considered to be dangerous play in a scrum?

  • a. Front rows rushing against each other
  • b. Front row players pulling an opponent
  • c. A front row player intentionally lifting an opponent off the ground or upwards out of the scrum
  • d. Intentionally collapsing the scrum
  • (Law 9.19 – PK)

 

8. What is considered to be dangerous play in a ruck or maul?

  • a. Charging in without binding
  • b. Contact with an opponent above the shoulder
  • c. Intentionally collapsing the ruck or maul
  • (Law 9.20 – PK)
  • 9. If a ball carrier hands off an opponent, how must this be done?
  • · Without excessive force (Law 9.24 – PK)

 

10. What must a player not do after an opponent has just kicked the ball?

· Charge or obstruct the kicker (Law 9.25 – PK)

Options:

  • a. At the place of infringement, or
  • b. Where the ball land or is next played but not nearer than 15 metres from the touchline, or
  • c. If the ball, is kicked directly into touch, on the 15-metre line in line with where the ball crossed the touchline, or
  • d. If the ball lands in-goal, touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line, five metres from the goal line in line with where the ball crossed the goal line and at least 15 metres from the touchline, or
  • e. If the ball hits a goal post or crossbar, where the ball lands


Article added: Thursday 22 April 2021

 

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