The Laws of the Game

By Donaghadee
August 16 2002

What's this? I hear you ask. Serious rugby discussion on The Craic? Our man from the media, Billy Hamilton, outlines the laws of rugby.

THE LAWS OF THE GAME

Last season interest was shown in learning more about the Laws of the Game. I am therefore prepared to write a number of articles setting out the Laws in lay terms. I have condensed and paraphrased the Laws without leaving out any important facts. Where I have had to make comments these are in blue.

Below I have set out the first three Laws and would welcome comments. I would welcome questions, which I will answer in the next article. I am a former referee but where I feel that I cannot adequately answer I will take advice from current referees in Donaghadee RFC.

Billy Hamilton

LAW 1

THE GROUND

 

 The surface is grass, but if this is not possible it may be clay or sand, provided it is not dangerous. Any permanently hard surface, for example asphalt or cement, is prohibited.

· The field-of-play does not exceed 100 metres in length and 70 metres in width. Each in-goal does not exceed 22 metres in length and 70 metres in width.

 The length and breadth of the playing area are as near as possible to the dimensions indicated. All the areas are rectangular.

 The distance from the goal-line to the dead-ball line is not less than 10 metres where practicable.

(The Law describes how each of the lines are marked – solid, broke and dashed)

 The distance between the two goal posts is 5.6 metres.

 The crossbar is placed between the two goal posts so that its top edge is 3.0 metres from the ground.

 The minimum height of the goal posts is 3.4 metres.

 There are 14 flag posts with flags, each with a minimum height of 1.2 metres above the ground.

 Flag posts must be positioned at the intersection of touch-in-goal lines and the goal-lines and at the intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the dead ball lines. These eight flag posts are outside the in-goal area and do not form part of the playing area.

 Flag posts must be positioned in line with the 22-metre lines and the half-way line, 2 metres outside the touch-lines and within the playing enclosure.

LAW 2

THE BALL

 

 The ball must be oval and made of four panels.

 Length in line 280 - 300 millimetres Circumference (end to end) 760 - 790 millimetres Circumference (in width) 580 - 620 millimetres

 Leather or similar synthetic material. It may be treated to make it resistant to mud and easier to grip.

 Weight - 400 - 440 grams

 Air pressure at the start of play.0.67 - 0.70 kilograms per square centimetre, or 9½ -10 lbs per square inch

 

 

 

 

LAW 3

PLAYERS

· A team consists of 15 players with any substitutes and replacements. A replacement is someone who replaces an injured player. A substitute is used for tactical reasons.

· A team may not have more than 15 players on the playing area. If a team brings to the notice of the referee that there are more than 15 players on for the opposition he will order them to reduce the numbers. The score will be unaffected.

· In international games there will be 7 nominated substitutes. In other games the Union with jurisdiction will decide the number of substitutes/replacements allowed.

· A team of 15 players must have three trained and experienced front row players. In a squad of 16/18 players 4 front row players and for 19/22 5 front row players.

· A player sent off for foul play will not be replaced (see below for exception for temporary replacement in front row)

· An injured player may be replaced. If the replacement is permanent he may not return to the field. Replacements will be made when the ball is dead and with the referee’s permission.

· In national representative games a doctor’s opinion is needed to replace an injured player. In other games a medically trained person may give the opinion or, if no such person is available, the referee’s permission is required.

· The referee has power to order off an injured player for treatment or examination.

· A player leaving the field to have bleeding controlled, or an open wound covered, may be temporarily replaced. If he does not return within 15 minutes the replacement becomes permanent.

· If the temporary replacement is sent off for foul play the replaced player may not return. If the temporary replacement is sent to the "sin bin" the replaced player may not return until the suspension is over.

· A player leaving the field to have bleeding controlled or a wound covered may return when this has been done. He may return with the referee’s permission when the ball is dead. If a player returns without the referee’s permission the referee may award a penalty if he believes that the action was deliberate to obtain an advantage or a scrum if he believes it was unintentional.

· A team can substitute up to 2 front row players and up to 5 other players. A player substituted may not return to the field of play except to temporarily replace an injured player or to replace a front row player injured, temporarily suspended or sent off.

· If a front row player is sent off or temporarily suspended he may be replaced before the next scrum by a suitably trained player from within the team or a nominated player will leave the field to allow a trained player to come on. In case of temporary suspension the nominated player may come back when the suspension is over.

· If no suitable front row replacement is available the future scrums will be uncontested. (as that is unlikely to happen at our games I will not take up space with the conditions applied to uncontested scrums)