Uncontested Scrums update - National League matches

Important update regarding uncontested scrums in National League matches - this does not affect the Leicestershire Merit Table matches

For season 2015-2016 there will be an additional sanction for not seeing that the "man off" rule is adhered to.

This should be applied by the Referee when a side causes a game to go to uncontested scrums.

Next season it will no longer be judged as a referee mistake if the extra player is allowed to stay on the field of play because the referee forgot to make sure that the "man off" rule was applied.
 
THE CLUB WILL NOW HAVE THE RESPOSIBILITY TO ASSIST THE REFEREE TO MAKE SURE THAT LAW 3.5(k) IS ADHERED TO,  And THE SANCTION FOR NOT DOING SO WILL BE A DEDUCTION OF 5 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Below is an extract from a recent Midlands Division Organising Committee meeting which we include as further information

Regulations & Administrative Instructions/Rules

i) League secretaries would need to warn their clubs pre season regarding the change in Appendix 1 – Sanction Guidelines to Regulation 13. Under Ineligible player(s) – selecting or playing an ineligible player (including replacements and substitutes).

The change will be an additional note of - Player not authorised to enter the field of play in accordance with RFU Regulation 13, Appendix 2.

This sanction would now be applied to a club that failed to make sure that the “man off rule” was adhered to when its team caused the game to go to uncontested scrums.

It would no longer be considered a referee mistake if having caused the game to go to uncontested scrums a team carried on playing with 15 men on the field of play.

To see the logic diagram Front-Row-Replacemment-Logic-Tree

Any questions - please contact Paul Macmillan