FOUL PLAY THEME

Have a go! Support your answers with relevant Law Reference and Sanction. Answers will be listed in next week's Law Questions.

Referees - bring your answers to your local evening sessions next week for discussion.

Thanks to Graeme Meyrick for compiling. Want to get in touch to discuss law? Contact [email protected]

1. What can the process designed to protect the head, neck and throat area (“Head Contact”) of players be applied to?

2. With regard to head contact, what considerations should be taken into account when determining whether or not foul play has occurred?

3. What is abuse?

4. How must a player not tackle an opponent?

5.  When can a player be pushed, held, and/or obstructed?

6. How must a player charge or knock down an opponent?

7. What is considered to be dangerous play in a scrum?

8. What is considered to be dangerous play in a ruck or maul?

9. If a ball carrier hands off an opponent, how must this be done?

10. What must a player not do after an opponent has just kicked the ball?

Week 1 - ANSWERS

1. What is the definition of Foul Play?

Anything a player does within the playing enclosure that is contrary to Law 9 governing obstruction, unfair play, repeated infringements, dangerous play and misconduct (Law 9 -Definition)

2. What must happen to a player who has committed foul play?

The player must be cautioned or temporarily suspended or sent off (Law 9 - Principle)

3. When two opponents are running for the ball what can they do?

Run shoulder to shoulder but they may not push or charge each other (Obstruction - Law 9.1 - PK)

4. May an off-side player obstruct or interfere with an opponent?

No (Obstruction – Law 9.2 – PK)

5. May a player prevent an opponent from tackling the ball carrier?

No (Obstruction – Law 9.3 - PK)

6. May a player prevent an opponent from playing the ball?

No (Obstruction – Law 9.4 – PK)

7. Can a ball carrier intentionally run into an off-side team-mate to obstruct the opposition?

No (Obstruction – Law 9.5 – PK)

8. While the ball is dead, may a player obstruct or interfere with an opponent?

No (Obstruction – Law 9.6 – PK)

9. What must a player not do under “unfair play” law?

a. Intentionally infringe any law of the game (Law 9.7 – PK)

b. Intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with arm or hand from the playing area (Law 9.7 – PK)

c. Do anything that may lead the match officials to consider that an opponent has committed an infringement (Law 9.7 – PK)

d. Waste time (Law 9.7 – FK)

10. May a team repeatedly commit the same offence?

No (Law 9.8 – PK)

11. May a player repeatedly infringe the laws?

No (Law 9.9 – PK)

12. What must the referee do when different players of the same team repeatedly commit the same offence?

Give a general caution to the team and if they repeat the offence, temporarily suspend the guilty player(s) (Law 9.10)

Article added: Thursday 15 April 2021