05 Jan Law Clarification

As you may be aware there has been a lot of publicity over the last few weeks about new World Rugby directives on foul play, and more specifically about contact to the head area.

From a match officiating perspective there is to be no change in how you are to operate in terms of dealing with foul play. The guidelines we have in place are, as they always have been, where there is foul play contact to the head, it is a minimum of a PK.

Where two players collide/come together, and there is head contact, and you deem that it isn’t foul play, then that is play on. You should in making any comments on the incident desist from using the word “accidental”, as an accidental incident of foul play is now a PK.

I have also attached a Law Clarification which is now in place. There are no law changes until July 1st in the Northern Hemisphere.