Referees Corner – Issue 2 – Munster

Welcome to another edition of referees corner. A warm welcome to a fantastic team of referees from the Ulster Society for Rugby Football Referees led by Chris Busby. Chris will be ably assisted by Peter Martin, Keane Davidson and Mark Patton for this hugely anticipated game between Leinster and Munster. The 4th official is John Carvill, 5th is Hayley Whyte, with Barry O’Keefee on the clock. Chris is a member of Ireland’s referee High Performance Panel alongside Andrew Brace and Eoghan Cross. He went through the USRFR pathway and onto the IRFU National Panel in a few years. Busby, born in Antrim, County Antrim, has been refereeing for over 7 years. He made his Pro14 refereeing debut on 9 October 2020 refereeing the match between Zebre and Dragons. He was one of the Irish referees selected as a match official for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He described his appointment as a surreal experience. We wish them all well today and wish Chris continued success. 

The largest reimagination of rugby’s entertainment value continues to progress with the World Rugby Council approving a package of law amendments that came into effect from 1 July, 2024.

Three new law amendments relating to offside from kicks in open play, the options available from a free-kick and removal of the practice of ‘crocodile rolling’ a player away from the tackle/ruck area, are aimed at promoting ball in flow and diversity of attacking options, while supporting player welfare. 

Approval marks the latest phase in the roll-out of the Shape of the Game action plan, a transformative cross-game plan to grow rugby’s audience share. The plan seeks to increase rugby’s accessibility and relevance among a broader, younger fanbase by embracing on-field innovation and reimagined presentation of the sport with compelling storytelling.

Combined with the previously announced reinforcement of current law and a suite of opt-in closed law trials and future law innovation via specialist working groups and new rugby law labs, the law amendments are part of an holistic approach to addressing common areas of fan and player frustration. These include the prevalence of kick tennis, lack of space, slow ball from the caterpillar ruck, use of technology, and set-piece dead time.

The programme is being rolled out with the support of national unions, competitions, universities and players and is central to the sport’s central mission of growth by increasing its audience share.

What are the law changes for this season?

With a focus on both spectacle and safety and all geared towards the promotion of quick attacking ball, three law amendments will be operational across the game for competitions beginning after 1 July, 2024:

• Onside from kicks in open play: In a rewrite of Law 10.7 relating to players being put onside from kicks in open play, it will no longer be possible for a player to be put onside when an opposition player catches the ball and runs five metres, or passes the ball. Laws 10.1 and 10.4 will make clear that offside players must make an attempt to retreat, creating space for the opposition team to play. This should reduce the amount of kick tennis in the game.
• Free-kicks: Under Law 20.3, it will no longer be possible to choose a scrum from a free-kick. Free-kicks must either be tapped or kicked to encourage more ball in flow.
• Banning the ‘crocodile roll’: The action of rolling/twisting/pulling of a player on their feet in the tackle area (the ‘crocodile roll’) will be outlawed, sanctioned by a penalty.

The IRFU and it’s referees spent a lot of time over the summer months, in their various seminars understanding and working through these new laws. You’re sure to see some in action today.

Want to get involved? 

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie  If you are interested in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or through twitter @leinsterreferee.