Our Aim:

1. To provide a game where there is a true contest for possession at every phase.

2. To provide for continuity of play for the ball carrying team.

SCRUM:

• Bind on the hit
• 4 calls must be clear - C/T/P/E - Trust the call - follow the call
• Head above hips
• Encourage quick feed
• Early hit = FK.
• Scrum must be square and steady post engagement
• No 8 Slingshot shoulder attached to scrum, prior to engagement – ie, cannot “sling” from a totally unbound position)
• Forcing COMPLIANCE to the TOUCH call at scrum time and therefore assisting a better PAUSE after the touch>

Pre Match:

• Brief & concise conversation
• Referees do what we say

MAUL:

• Clear & obvious lineout obstruction by “lifters / support players”, or individual players who take up the space, in front of Jumper:
• Make clear decisions (PK), for obvious obstruction,
• Kick Off Obstruction: by players in front of ball receiver:
• Make clear (PK) decisions, for obvious obstruction
• Maul from lineout: players may still “sack”, as long as they are doing so prior to the formation of the maul!
• Collapsing a maul is no longer legal (PK)

OFFSIDES - KICKS:

• Advancing Players: We must ensure a stronger effort on “holding downtown offside players” (ie, no advancing)!
• 10m Law: Irrelevant where they are on the field - the 10m line is across the entire field
• make sure we get the space right in the 10 metres in front of the ball carrier
• Communication options - just saying the words: "10 metres” Players need to know what this means to them

TACKLE RUCK:

• Observe the contest / collision / dominant team prior to your arrival
• Think about "who is at risk”
• Process –
1. Tackler releases ball carrier/ball completely
2. ID players with hands on ball before ruck
3. Tackled player releases
4. Arriving players – both teams through gate and on feet>
5. Arriving players – bind on to team mate on arrival.
• If no team-mate, you must join by “binding onto an opposition
• Get rid of attacking pillars standing ahead of the offside line and obstructing opponents in front of them
• Referees have the “unplayable” decision available to them (team going forward, or attacking team scrum), where there is obvious doubt as to infringement.

DANGEROUS TACKLES:

If players are lifted in a tackle, it’s the tackler’s responsibility to bring them to ground. Decisions as follows on clear incidents

• Lift and Drop - PK
• Lift, Twist and Drop - Yellow Card
• Lift, Twist and Drive/Dump – Red Card

Referees statement to players/captains when discussing infringements/repeated indiscretions are aimed at putting responsibility back on the players.

‘ARE YOU CLEAR ABOUT THAT’?