Leinster Match Program – Article 2

The new season kicked off on the golf course rather than the rugby pitch. On August 31st we held the combined Leinster Rugby / Leinster Rugby Referees golf outing in Milltown Golf Club. A cracking day was had by all, and the weather played its part too with a beautiful sunny day. We had 21 members and 4 guests playing in Milltown GC.

The Brindley Cup was won by Brendan Lynch with 38 points and followed closely by Mark Gargan (37 points), Peter Donnelly (33) and Bryan O’Neill (31). It is not Brendan’s first time lifting the trophy and he played some magnificent golf.  David Bolger with 34 points won the Jim Dolan Memorial Plate for the best placed active member of the ARLB. Our appreciation is due to Simon ‘Nigel’ Owens who arranged the outing in conjunction with the Leinster Branch’s own competition. Conor Byrne in his presidential speech thanked all for attending and appealed to other members to support the event in the future.

Law Trials

In line with the law review timelines, the trials will begin on 1 August 2017 in the northern hemisphere and either 1 January 2017 or 1 January 2018 (for scrum and tackle/ ruck laws) in the southern hemisphere and will last for an initial period of one year. We will have a look at some of the new laws here and look at the remainder next week.

Definition – Possession

This happens when a player is carrying the ball (or attempting to bring it under control) or the team has the ball in its control; for example the ball in one half of a scrum or ruck is in that team’s possession.

Law 3

3.6 Number of Players – The Team

Uncontested scrums as a result of a sending off, temporary suspension or injury must be played with eight players per side.

Law 5

5.7 (e) Time

If a penalty is kicked into touch after time has elapsed without touching another player, the referee allows the throw-in to be taken and play continues until the next time the ball becomes dead.

To end the half, the ball must be tapped before the kick to touch.

Law 8

8.1 (a) Advantage

When there are multiple penalty infringements by the same team, the referee may allow the captain of the non-offending team to choose the most advantageous of the penalty marks.

Law 9

9.A.1 Method of Scoring

Penalty Try. If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded. No conversion is attempted.

Value: 7 points

Law 20

20.5 Throwing the ball into the scrum

No signal from referee.

The scrum must be stable and there must be no delay once the ball has been presented to the scrum.

20.6 (d) How the scrum-half throws in the ball

The scrum-half must throw the ball in straight, but is allowed to align their shoulder on the middle line of the scrum, therefore allowing them to stand a shoulder width towards their side of the middle line.

Law 20 Striking after the throw-in.

Once the ball touches the ground in the tunnel, any front row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball. One player from the team who put the ball in must strike for the ball.

Sanction: Free-kick

20.9 (b) Handling in the scrum – exception

Allow the number eight to pick the ball from the feet of the second-rows.

There is a very useful video on our website – https://leinsterrugbyreferees.ie/?p=3607 where Alain Rolland explains these new trials.

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees at denis.collins@leinsterrugby.ie or contact by phone Denis Collins at 01-2235107 or David O’Brien at david.obrien@irfu.ie. If you are interested in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our Facebook and Google + pages, our website www.arlb.ie or through twitter @leinsterreferee.