Welcome to Part 5 of this series of lessons on The Laws of the Rugby Universe.
So let's get on with Law No. 9: Method of Scoring
READ THE LAW FIRST: http://rugby.hwachong.googlepages.com/law9.pdf
1st Pointer: Dropped goal.
The law states that a dropped goal is scored by kicking a goal from a drop kick in general play.Take Note: If a team is awarded a free kick, the team cannot take a direct dropped goal. Only when the ball becomes dead (play stops), OR when an opponent has played or touched the ball, OR when the ball carrier has been tackled, can the team then attempt a dropped goal. The same applies when a team chooses for a scrum when awarded a free kick: a dropped goal cannot be scored directly off a scrum that results from a free kick.
2nd Pointer: Opposition team during a kick.
The law states that the opposition team has to retire after their goal line and cannot begin their charge until the kick has started his approach.Take Note: You cannot overstep the goal line until the kicker begins his run-up. You can charge or jump to prevent the kick but you MUST NOT shout, if not a re-kick may be awarded if the original kick is not scored. Also if the ball falls over after the kicker has started his run-up, you CAN continue to charge. Finally, do charge after every kick because there are certain cases when the ball bounces off the upright and remain in the field of play.
3rd Pointer: Kicks (excluding conversions) not scored.
What happens when a penalty kick or a dropped goal is not scored?There are 3 cases:
In this case, it's a 22 meter drop out for the defending team.
In this case, the defending team should execute the defensive touch-down (touch the ball down inside your own try area), which will result in a 22 meter drop out for the defending team.
In this case, the defending team should attempt to claim possession of the ball since it's still in play. Play goes on.
That's it for now. End of Lesson.
Welcome to Part 4 of this series of lessons on The Laws of the Rugby Universe.
So let's get on with Law No. 8: Advantage
READ THE LAW FIRST: http://rugby.hwachong.googlepages.com/law8.pdf
1st Pointer: The law of advantage has limits.
The law states that the referee is the sole judge of whether a team has gained an advantage.Take Note: The referee WILL call for "advantage over" when he deems that the non-offending team has already made a gain either territorially or tactically from playing the advantage. Hence sometimes it is prohibitive to actually PLAY the full advantage which would otherwise result in the referee going back to a penalty for the initial infringement.
Scenario No. 1: It's 1 min from full time in a game. The attacking team (which is down by 2 points) is inside the opposition 22. During a ruck 15 meters from the try line right in front of the goal post, the defending team commits an offence. the referee calls for advantage to be played for the attacking side. Should the attacking team exhaust the advantage (gain a clear advantage and hence resulting in the referee calling "advantage over")?
The Answer: IN THIS CASE, it's best to take the safe option and get the 3 points and the win with the match so close to full time. This is because if you happen to exhaust the advantage, and the referee blows "advantage over", you've lost a great chance to put 3 points on the board through a penalty kick from such a great position, and possibly a chance to win the match in this case. In other instances, depending on situation, a team may choose to exhaust their advantage.
2nd Pointer: Advantage can be either tactical or territorial.
The law states an advantage is gained through either gain in territory, or the gain in freedom for the non-offending team to play the ball as they wish.Scenario No. 2: A team has been awarded the advantage in their own half. After a couple of phases, one of the players kicks the ball into the opponent's half. What happens?
The answer: It depends. Remember, an advantage gained can be territorial. Usually if the ball goes out straight into touch ON-THE-FULL (kicker outside his own 22), OR if the ball does not go out of touch but the opponent catches it immediately, the referee will blow for a penalty at the place of the original infringement. In the case where the ball goes into touch NOT on-the-full, or if the kick does not go into touch and the opponent does not catch it immediately and the kick be allowed to bounce, USUALLY the referee will call "advantage over" instead because there is a real gain in territory. But also take into consideration that ultimately it's still up to the REFEREE's discretion, so always play to the whistle.
3rd Pointer: Further infringements by either team.
The law states if there's more than one infringement by the same team, the advantage still applies, while an infringement by a team that is playing the advantage will result in a penalty for the original infringement.Take note: This means while the other team is playing the advantage following an infringement by the offending team, any further infringement by the offending team will result in the referee awarding another advantage to the other team. The reverse however does not apply, i.e. if a team which is while playing the advantage commits an infringement, then the referee will stop play and the team is awarded a penalty for the original infringement by the other team.
I know the advantage rule sounds confusing, but really it is quite simple. Feel free to drop all your questions in the comments section!
That's it for now. End of Lesson.
Welcome to Part 3 of this series of lessons on The Laws of the Rugby Universe.
So let's get on with Law No. 6: Match Officials
READ THE LAW FIRST: http://rugby.hwachong.googlepages.com/law6.pdf
1st Pointer: The referee is king.
The law states that all players should respect the authority of the referee and that the penalty kick will be taken at the place of infringement.Take Note: Please understand that the referee has the ultimate power. unlike in other sports, if you dispute the referee or call him names, he cans bring the penalty 10 meters further towards the offending team's try line from the place of the original infringement.
2nd Pointer: Do not talk back does not mean do not TALK to the referee.
The law states that players should not dispute the referee's decisions.Take Note: This does not mean that you cannot confirm with the referee regarding certain issues, e.g. whether you are back 10 meters yet from lineouts/penalties. In fact is is imperative that you check with him before the said lineouts/penalties are being taken because any further infringements WILL result in your team being penalized again.
That's it for now. End of Lesson.
Welcome to Part 2 of this series of lessons on The Laws of the Rugby Universe.
So let's get on with Law No. 3: The Players
READ THE LAW FIRST: http://rugby.hwachong.googlepages.com/law3.pdf
1st Pointer: Player wishing to rejoin the match.
The law states that a player who has left the match and wishes to rejoin the match cannot do so until the referee permits it.Take Note: usually this will only happen when the play has stopped. You HAVE TO wait for the referee to signal you before you can step onto the pitch. It will result in a PENALTY if you do not do so. In the case where you are a SUBSTITUTE, you need to approach the referee and make known to him your jersey number and the jersey number of the player being substituted.
2nd Pointer: Front Row Forward out of the match.
The law states that if a front row forward is out of the match for whatever reason (sent off, suspended, injured) and there are no further front row player available then uncontested scrums will be awarded.Take Note: it is NOT the referee's responsibility to know the suitability and availability of front row player replacements. Hence in the case where a scrum were to take place, it is the team's or the captain's responsibility to ALERT the referee of the unavailability of a replacement front row player and request for a replacement be made immediately, or in the case where no other front row forwards is available, request for an uncontested scrum.
That's it for now. End of Lesson.
In the following days to come for the month of May, I'll be breaking down the laws of the game into parts for your improvement. please do not think of it as a chore, think of it as a good way to improve your game and stay on top. so I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least some of you will be bothered to read it.Before we start, the most important thing:
That means:
Together, they make and implement the rules in your game so remember them well.
Also, starting from August, there will be a global trial of some of the Experiment Law Variations or ELVs (read more here) under the IRB directive. I'm not sure if SRU will implement this for next season, you guys have to keep a look out for that. For now just stick to the present laws.
So let's get on with Law No.1: The Ground
READ THE LAW FIRST: http://rugby.hwachong.googlepages.com/law1.pdf
1st Pointer: Field of Play.
The law states that the goal lines and touch lines are NOT part of the field of play.Scenario No. 1: in open play, if a player has 1 foot inside the touchline and 1 foot on the touchline, and catches a ball that the opponent attempted to kick out, who gets the lineout throw?
The answer is very simple: The team who catches the ball.
Why? Remember when the player has 1 foot on the touch line, it puts him OUT of the field of play, so when he catches the ball, it is deemed as OUT of play. Hence the team that catches the ball gets the lineout throw.
2nd Pointer: The In-goal.
The law states that the in-goal area includes the goal line but DOES NOT include the dead ball line and the touch-in-goal lines.Senario No. 2: if a player on an attacking side grounds the ball in the opposition in-goal area, but his elbow slightly brushes the touch-in-goal lines, is it considered a try?
The answer: No. simple, because a try has to be scored in the in-goal area, if any part of the player comes into contact with the outside of the in-goal area in the act of scoring a try, the try is not be awarded.
Finally i can't stress this enough, but please MEMORIZE how the playing area looks: that includes all the lines, especially the most important ones like the try line, the touch lines, the 22, halfway line, 10 meter line, etc. You simply can't play the game without knowing your playing area.
That's it for now. End of Lesson.
hi guys,
here is the most updated laws under the IRB regulation:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/
COMPLETELAWS_4809.pdf
and here is the U-19 laws with slight variations, i can't rmb what's the exact differences, i think it's with regards to the break down area and some other minor details. maybe more applicable to A div:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/
UNDER19VARIATIONS_4514.pdf
also included is the 7-a-side law variations used for 7s games:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/
SEVENASIDEVARIATIONS_4537.pdf
and finally the referee's signals, good to know the most common ones, e.g. penalty, free kick, scrum, forward pass, knock on, etc.:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/
REFEREESIGNALS_4538.pdf
note: right click on the link, save as. requires adobe acrobat reader.
the docs are pretty long, so read them little by little. e.g. cutting them into sections. but pls do go read up. it's imperative that you understand the laws of the game before you can play the game.
cheers!