Law Discussion: England's Premiership

There is an interesting incident in the match between London Irish and Gloucester, which is worth looking at. And while we are about it we shall look at two other incidents from the match.

1. What happens next?

Nicky Robinson of Gloucester kicks the ball towards the London Irish goal line. The ball rolls and rolls, till it starts top peter out.

Delon Armitage, the London Irish fullback, runs to the dead-ball line. He stretches forward, feet behind the dead-ball line, arm fully stretched as the ball’s impetus is nearly at an end. He then puts his hand on top of the ball and grounds it.

If you were refereeing, what would you do next?

In this case the referee gave London Irish the option of a drop-out or a scrum way back where Robinson kicked the ball. They opted for the scrum.

Right?

No. Not at all.

All Armitage did was put his hand on the ball and touch it down. It is a touch down.

22.5 BALL GROUNDED BY A DEFENDING PLAYER
(a) Touch down. When defending players are first to ground the ball in their in-goal, it results in a touch down.

Armitage touched the ball down.

But it was from a kick.

Law 22.8 BALL KICKED DEAD IN IN-GOAL
If a team kicks the ball through their opponents’ in-goal, into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, except by an unsuccessful kick at goal or attempted dropped goal, the defending team has two choices:
To have a drop-out,
or
To have a scrum at the place where the ball was kicked and they throw in.

The ball was not kicked on or over the dead ball line.

Law 22.9 (e) If a player with one or both feet on or behind the dead ball line picks up the ball, which was in motion within in-goal, that player has picked up the ball outside the playing area.

Armitage did not pick the ball up.

The correct decision would have been just a drop-out.

If Armitage had picked the ball up, it would have been an option. For Armitage to have picked up the ball in the position he was in would have taken considerable dexterity.

If Armitage had been an attacking player doing what he did, the referee would have awarded a try.

This happened after 57 minutes.

2. Take it again.

Here are two little nitpicks about the taking of free kicks which are common practice and yet do not seem to accord with the written law.

a. Ryan Lamb of London Irish kicks a high diagonal towards his left. The ball comes down inside the Gloucester 22 where Charlie Sharples, the Gloucester fullback, catches the ball and claims the mark. The referee blows his whistle for the mark, which is significant.

After the referee has blown his whistle Sharples runs forward and kicks the ball.

The referee calls him back and has him take the free kick correctly.

Law 21.3 HOW THE PENALTY AND FREE KICKS ARE TAKEN
(a) Any player may take a penalty or free kick awarded for an infringement with any type of kick: punt, drop kick or place kick. The ball may be kicked with any part of the lower leg from knee to the foot, excluding the knee and the heel.
Sanction: Any infringement by the kicker’s team results in a scrum at the mark. The opposing team throws in the ball.

Sharples did not kick the ball at all.

Historically it is interesting because that is what the first people at rugby school did – catch the ball and run forward with it rather than catch the ball and retire to kick it for the free kick. But that was nearly 200 years ago!

b. Gloucester shove early at a scrum and the referee awards a free kick to London Irish. London Irish scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, who is in opposition next to the scrum with the ball which he was going to put into the scrum, quickly taps the ball and starts to dart. The referee blows his whistle and says: “At the back, please.” Hodgson throws the ball to his No.8 George Stowers who taps the ball and plays on.

The laws require that penalties and free kick be taken at the place of infringement.

21.2 WHERE PENALTY AND FREE KICKS ARE TAKEN
(a) The kicker must take the penalty or free kick at the mark or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark. If the place for a penalty or free kick is within five metres of the opponents ’goal line, the mark for the kick is five metres from the goal line, opposite the place of
infringement.
Sanction: Any infringement by the kicker’s team results in a scrum five metres from the goal line in line with the mark. The opposing team throws in the ball.

It is a law which clearly Hodgson should have known. He was taking a chance, knowing that the kind referee would give him a second chance.