Video 1 from iRB DVD on refereeing Ruck and Tackle

[HarlandRDO]

The point of the IRB's May directive was to encourage a real contest for the ball at breakdowns. If the ball-carrying side get to dive over, the defenders will stop trying to steal and spread out, denying attackers space and turning this into rugby league or a faster NFL game. By keeping support players on their feet and shoulders up, the defending ruckers and potential stealers of the ball can win by getting there earliest with the greatest force to win the ball.

[footballforever20]

how does stealing work in rugby then?

[breako]

You're correct. The law needs to be made clearer. The ref's used to allow all attacking players hand ruck, and feed the ball back, on the basis that the ruck was effectively over and it was just speeding up the game. Then came counter rucking. They now only allow the hindmost player to hand ruck. I agree it's not clear in the law and should be. Howver, I have heard this interpretation at any of the ref meetings I have attended. And I usually tell both teams before the game.

[HarlandRDO]

Good points. I also allow a team that has clearly won the ruck to use their hands (better than clearing by stamping!) to get the ball out. The problem, I think, lies with rucks that are won by players bridging or shielding the ball instead of winning the ball by pushing the opposition back. 90+% retention rate in the Heineken league just supports the need to improve contestability.

[breako]

Good video. But the last man at a ruck is allowed use his hands in the same way as the number 8 in a scrum is.

Also the tackled player is allowed to place the ball back even after the ruck has formed.

[HarlandRDO]

I see how you might think that the player can play the ball with his hands, but the law book does not allow a player in a ruck to play the ball. If he disengages from the ruck and that makes the ball no linger in the ruck, then the ruck is over and he can pick it up. Same with #8s in the scrum. What we are SEEING at the int'l level is that players are allowed to handle the ball. The IRB put out these videos to try to get the game back to a real contest at rucks.

Thanks for the comments!

[Baysteamers]

I think it is a bit hard on the ref. Half these "rucks" were not even formed properly, it doesnt count when players are off their feet and what is the point in calling hands when a team has clearly won the ball this just slows the game down.

[OhAySis]

I'm assuming all of these should have been penalized?

[HarlandRDO]

Yes-the video supports a memo from the IRB sent in May 2008. We have seen an improvement in the overall game as a result of applying these laws properly-defenders have a chance to steal the ball if they drive well, so both teams are sending more people into the rucks. THis leaves more space around the field to attack (fewer thirteen-person walls of defense). The increased turnovers also make for some dynamic attacks and quick decision-making. Let's hope this catches on...