Some rules that all rugby players should know.

Here are some rules that should make it easier to understand and play rugby effectively, and to understand why the referee blows the whistle when he does. The laws of rugby change every year - sometimes a few times a year - so it is essential that you as a player keep up to date with what is allowed and what is not. A good example is that you used to get a penalty for lifting in the line out - now it is legal. Loose forwards used to be able break before the ball was out of the scrum - not so anymore.

There are 28 laws in rugby and each has a number of subsections. The rule book is about 66 pages long. The scrum and line out have five pages each!

Law 3: Number of players and substitutions.

• A player may be temporarily substituted for a player who is being treated for bleeding.
• All blood has to be cleaned away and treated immediately. If the players' bleeding does not stop - he must remain off the field. If the player's jersey has blood on it, he must change jerseys before re-entering the game.

Law 4: Players dress.

• The laws now allow shoulder pads and scrum caps, provided they meet the International Rugby Board standards (most that are available from rugby vendors do). The padding can be no more than one centimeter thick and had a specified maximum density.

• Beginning in January 2000, they are phasing-out black scrum caps because it is impossible to see blood on them. New ones will be gray, white, tan, etc. It is not necessary to get a new scrum cap yet, but all new ones will be non-black.

Law 6: Referee and touch judge.

• If the appointed referee does not arrive for a game (or get injured) another official union ref should blow if they are available otherwise the home team appoints a referee. Law 6 (1).
• The referee will not change any decision that he makes - so don't get upset with him - he'll probably get more upset too. Instead, ask your captain to have a quiet word with him, or ask him after the game - they also make mistakes sometimes.
• The referee only blows what he sees - he cannot penalize for hands-in-a-ruck if he does not see the hands, he cannot penalize for a punch or bite if he did not see it, he cannot award a try if he cannot see the ball go to ground, etc.

Law 8: Advantage.

• The referee is sole judge of when advantage is given or not given and for how long.
• The advantage must be either territorial or the ensuing possession must give a tactical advantage.
• Advantage will not be applied only at the following times: the ball touches the referee or the ball exits the scrum without being hooked (i.e., out the tunnel).

Law 12: Try and touchdown.

• You can only score a try by applying downwards pressure with your hands, arms or the front of your body from waist to neck. You can not score a try with your head, legs or back!

Law 14: In-goal.

• All rules apply within the in-goal area - i.e., you can still be blown by the referee for offside, knock on, forward pass, obstruction, catching a mark, etc. The only difference is that any scrum or penalty kick will be taken five meters from the try line.
• If you dive to score a try (while carrying the ball) but part of you goes out or touches the corner flag, then no try is awarded - you were in touch.
• But if you are chasing a ball that crosses the try line (e.g., from a kick) and you are completely in touch (out of bounds) or touching the flag when you dive and apply downward pressure you get the try.
• The 22 m drop-out or scrum when the ball goes over the dead ball line (end of the try zone) is decided not by who took the ball over the dead ball line - but by who took it over the try line.

Law 16: Fair catch (Mark).

• A mark can be given in in-goal (i.e., behind the try line).
• A mark can be made after the ball bounces off the goal posts.

Law 17: Knock on or forward throw.

• You can only knock-on with your hand or arm - a ball that goes forward from a head, chest or leg is not a knock-on.
• You can still be blown for a knock-on if the referee feels you lost control of the ball before you kicked it.

Law 18: Tackle, Lying on, with or near the ball.

• It is illegal to fall onto a man lying on the ground - whether he has the ball or not - you will be penalized.

Law 20: Scrummage.

• It is very important that the front row gets the engagement correct. It has been proved that the vast majority of neck injuries to tight five players are a direct result of poor scrum engagement.
• The scrumhalf must throw the ball in from between his legs with both hands. The ball must be below the knee but above the ankle. He must also stand one meter from the scrum.
• Any player not in the front row, must be bound to a lock (second row) player. This includes all three loose forwards, but allows them to bind into any of the three "channels" provided that they are bound to a lock.
• No one can break from the scrum until the ball is out of the scrum. The exception is the offensive #8 who must release to pick the ball up. However, once the #8 unbinds, everyone else in the scrum - offense and defense - can release.
• The hooker can be whistled for foot-up (i.e., striking before the ball is put in) even if he only moves his foot forward before the ball is thrown in. Law 20 (13).
• The tight head prop can only bind outside his opposite loosehead prop.
• It is the final decision of the referee to call for "un-contested" scrums if he feels that it is dangerous to continue normally.

Law 21: Ruck.

• A ruck is formed when the ball is on the ground and at least one player from each team are on their feet in contact with each other over the ball.
• You may not put your hands in a ruck - even if you are on your feet - except to score a try.

Law 22: Maul.

• A maul is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact with a player holding the ball.
• A collapsed maul is still a maul - you cannot collapse a maul (i.e., take it to ground) and hope to get the scrum. However, you can get penalized for collapsing a maul.
• You cannot remove (or attempt to remove) opposing players from a maul - this is a penalty {Law 22 (2) (c) }.
• When binding to a maul (or ruck or scrum) - you must have a full bind - that is from wrist to shoulder in contact with the maul, scrum, or ruck.
• You must join a maul and ruck from behind the last feet - i.e., from an "on-sides" position. You cannot enter a ruck or maul from the side.
• If you creep up the side of a maul to get to the ball you are risking offside.

Law 23: Touch and Lineout.

• All people not in the lineout must remain 10m back from the line out until it has ended.
• A lineout ends when the ball is passed or knocked from the lineout; a player leaves the lineout carrying the ball; the ball is thrown more than 15 m from touch (i.e., over the lineout); the ruck or maul from the lineout moves away from the line perpendicular to where the ball was thrown in; or the ball becomes unplayable and the referee blows the whistle.
• The lineout only starts once the hooker throws the ball.
• If the last man in the line out goes over the 15m line (from touch) - he is offside (i.e., leaving the lineout) unless the ball is thrown long over the 15 m mark.
• Players don't have to join the ruck or maul at a lineout, and they don't have to drop back 10 meters either. In other words, a player in the line out can stay where he is as long as he is behind the last foot of the last person bound into the maul or ruck. However, the player cannot drop back or enter the back line, otherwise he is offside.

Law 24: Offside.

• Just because a player is in an offside position - does not necessary mean that he is offside - provided that he does not interfere with play and retires to an onside position.

Law 26: Foul play.

• One can only ruck the ball - not a player.
• It is the responsibility of the captain to control his players - not the referee - no matter how he interprets the laws.
• When you and an opponent are running for a loose ball, you may not push or obstruct him in any way - except shoulder to shoulder. Law 26 (1) (a).
• You may not hit or tackle a player who is in the air jumping for a ball.
• If you keep infringing the same law - e.g. in front of the kicker; offside at a maul/line out; backchatting or swearing, etc. - you can be sent-off under Law 26 (2) (d).
• If a fight breaks out, chances are the referee will only see the person who retaliates, or the thrid person into the scuffle. This means that the person who retaliates or the third man in has a far greater chance of being placed in the "sin bin" or sent-off (ejected from the game).
• A coach or spectator can also be asked to leave the playing enclosure by the referee if it is deemed that the spectators behavior has reach ed an unacceptable level.

Law 28: Free kick.

• You can charge a free kick - NOT a penalty kick.
• You can NOT score a drop goal immediately after a free kick - the ball must first be touched by an opponent before you can attempt a drop kick.