ARURS - Administration and Notices
Season 2009-2010

IRB Ruling 3 - 2010 (pdf 46kb) - posted 21 Apr 10
IRB Ruling 2 - 2010 (pdf 46kb) - posted 15 Mar 10
Guidance on Intervention for Youth Matches - 7 Nov 09
Obstruction and Hands in Ruck (pdf 74kb) - posted 8 Sep 09
Changes to Law 3 and Regulation 17 (pdf 67kb) - posted 8 Sep 09
Front Row Regulations (pdf 370kb) - posted 8 Sep 09
Dangerous Tackles - 10 Jun 09
Law Clarification - 9 Apr 09
Physical Intervention - Youth Players - 9 Apr 09
Referee Radio Packs - 1 Sep 08

Guidance on Intervention for Youth Matches

The guidance on intervention for youth games has been issued for referees by the RFU.

Download Intervention by Referees in Youth Rugby (pdf 41kb)
Download Referees' Restrain Form (pdf 40kb)

Any questions regarding content should be directed to John Voss.

Posted: 7 Nov 09

Dangerous Tackles

In 2007, the IRB Council approved a Laws Designated Members Ruling which essentially made it clear that tackles involving a player being lifted off the ground and tipped horizontally and were then either forced or dropped to the ground are illegal and constitute dangerous play.

At a subsequent IRB High Performance Referee Seminar at Lensbury referees were advised that for these types of tackles they were to start at red card as a sanction and work backwards.

Unfortunately these types of tackles are still being made and the purpose of this memorandum is to emphasize that they must be dealt with severely by referees and all those involved in the off-field disciplinary process.

This decision correctly highlights that the lifting of players in the tackle and then either forcing or dropping them to the ground is dangerous and must be dealt with severely.

To summarise, the possible scenarios when a tackler horizontally lifts a player off the ground:

• The player is lifted and then forced or “speared” into the ground. A red card should be issued for this type of tackle.
• The lifted player is dropped to the ground from a height with no regard to the player’s safety. A red card should be issued for this type of tackle.
• For all other types of dangerous lifting tackles, it may be considered a penalty or yellow card is sufficient.

Referees and Citing Commissioners should not make their decisions based on what they consider was the intention of the offending player. Their decision should be based on an objective assessment (as per Law 10.4 (e)) of the circumstances of the tackle.

Download this text (pdf 27kb)

Posted: 10 Jun 09

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Law Clarification

The IRB have provided clarification in Rulings 2 and 3/2009 shown below. Anyone requiring further clarification should contact the CS RRDO, John Voss at DESSETLS-ET-C2B@mod.uk.

Download ELV Ruling 02/09 (pdf 40kb)

Download ELV Ruling 03/09 (pdf 44kb)

Posted: 9 Apr 09

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Physical Intervention - Youth Players

An early draft of the RFU Safeguarding guidelines, for implementation ahead of season 2010-11, currently includes the following statement:

Intervention

The incidence of adults intervening in issues related to the discipline of children on the playing or training field has increased over the last few years. The RFU takes a very clear stance on this matter.

Discipline on the field of play is the immediate responsibility of the referee and the players. Coaches and team managers must always promote good discipline amongst their players, in accordance with the RFU Code of Conduct, both on and off the field of play. In the event that players choose not to uphold the Code of Conduct and engage in physical aggression in contravention of the laws and spirit of rugby union then it is initially the sole responsibility of the referee to address these issues in a non-physical manner.

Physical intervention by an adult (including coach, manager, spectator or referee) in the event of physical or verbal aggression between two or more players on the field of play is not recommended. Any such intervention or intentional physical contact between an adult and a child can be viewed as physical assault and may be considered a criminal offence. It may also be considered a breach of the RFU regulations with charges being brought against any individual involved.

In order to ensure 'refereeing' is in a position to influence these guidelines prior to their implementation, I would ask you to provide feedback to John Voss (CSRR TDO) DESSETLS-ET-C2B@mod.uk prior to 06 May 2008. This will allow JV to feed the information back to the RFU.

Please note that these guidelines remain in draft format only at this stage.

Download this text (word 20kb)

Posted: 9 Apr 09

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Referee Radio Packs

There are 3 referee radio packs held by the Society. Any referee wishing to borrow a set, for matches requiring a team of three/four should place bids to the following:

• John Voss (Bordon) 077 1276 2598
• Colin Moore (Aldershot) 94222 3071
• Dai Williams (Bristol) 0117 926 2638
• Stephen Dowse (Tidworth) 94342 4138
• Billy Fishwick (Germany) 9205 423 4648/0032 6544 4648 (BA(G) owned set)

Please note it is the referee's responsibility to collect and return the packs, and they will also be required to sign for them.

Posted: 6 Oct 09