By Billy Hamilton
September 5 2002

In this, his second installment, ex-referee Billy Hamilton provides a layman's guide to the laws of Rugby. Here Billy analyses laws 4, 5 & 6. These articles will all be collated and put up as a sidebar story, they make much more sense than the official rules.

LAWS OF THE GAME II

By Billy Hamilton

Laws 4,5, and 6 deal with Players Dress, Time and Match Officials. The object of these articles is to help fans, who may not have much previous knowledge of rugby, to enjoy watching the games. Therefore I will only reproduce items that I think you need to know. Gems like " the referee shall carry a whistle to signal the beginning and end of each half of the game" and "there is one touch judge on each side of the ground"

Items in blue are my summary of the rules and those in black paraphrased quotes from the Laws.

 

LAW 4

PLAYERS DRESS

This Law sets out requirements for players dress with the emphasis being on safety. Specifications for the size of studs, the soft construction of items like shoulder pads, shin pads, supports etc are laid out in the Law. One item which was raised on the MB is quoted directly from the Laws:

· A player may wear mitts (fingerless gloves).

· A player must not wear gloves.

 A player must not wear communication devices within that player's clothing or attached to the body.

The Law prohibits articles such as earrings, rings etc which might cause injury and also bans the wearing of bloodstained clothing.

 

LAW 5

TIME

This law provides for games not lasting more than 80 minutes plus any extra time or stoppage time that might be added.

· The referee keeps the time but may delegate the duty to either or both the touch judges and/or the official time-keeper, in which case the referee signals to them any stoppage of time or time lost. In matches without an official time-keeper, if the referee is in doubt as to the correct time the referee consults either or both the touch judges and may consult others but only if the touch judges cannot help.

This is the only section that deals with the actual timekeeping. There is scope for the role to be delegated but this is not done in the Premiership. There is also no mention of the time remaining to be notified to players, spectators etc. This would be something to be arranged by the organisors.

· Time lost may be added for treating an injured player (not more than 1 minute), replacement of players clothing, replacement and substitution of players and the reporting of foul play by a touch judge.

· The referee may allow a player to be treated on the field or on the touchline while the game continues.

 If time expires and the ball is not dead, or an awarded scrum, line-out, has not been completed, the referee allows play to continue until the next time when the ball becomes dead. If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty kick is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue.

 If time expires after a try has been scored the referee allows time for the conversion kick to be taken.

 

LAW 6

MATCH OFFICIALS

This law deals with the appointment of referees and touch judges and their duties and responsibilities.

 The referee may consult with touch judges in regard to matters relating to their duties,the law relating to foul play, or timekeeping

 A video referee may be appointed with whom the referee may consult on matters relating to the grounding of a ball in goal or whether or not a person grounding the ball was in touch or over the dead ball line. This official may also be consulted about the success of kicks at goal.

 A match organiser may appoint a time keeper who will signify the end of each half.

 The referee must not consult with any other persons

 If the ball hits the referee and no team gains an advantage the play continues. If either team gains an advantage a scrum is awarded with the team that last played the ball having the put in. If an advantage is gained in goal a try or touch down may be awarded depending which team had possession of the ball.

 At the end of a lineout the touch judge will lower his flag except where the throwing player has stepped on to the field of play, the wrong team has thrown in or at a quick throw in the wrong ball had been used or the ball had touched anyone other than the throwing player.

 A touch judge signals that dangerous play or misconduct has been seen by holding the flag horizontally and pointing infield at right angles to the touch-line.