Law Discussion: Study the boot
The Hurricanes played the Bulls in a Super 15 match in Napier earlier this month. Playing for the Hurricanes was experienced prop Neemia Tialata, capped 43 times for the All Blacks.
In the match Tialata was injured and lay on the broad of his broad back. There is camera shot of this and in front of the picture there is Tialata’s boot.
Look carefully at the boot.
There is something wrong with the boot.
What?
Law 4.4 BANNED ITEMS OF CLOTHING
(i) A player must not wear a single stud at the toe of the boot.
Look at the boot. Look at the toe of the boot. There is a single stud. that is banned by the laws of the game.
Have a look at the next law.
Law 4.5 INSPECTION OF PLAYERS’ CLOTHING
(a) The referee or the touch judges appointed by or under the authority of the match organiser must inspect the players’ clothing and studs for conformity to this Law.
Presumably the referee in this match – a top match with a top referee who would be well aware of his duties – inspected the boots as the law requires. Presumably the illegal boot would have been seen.
What if the player had changed boots?
Law 4.5 (b) The referee has power to decide at any time, before or during the match, that part of a player’s clothing is dangerous or illegal. If the referee decides that clothing is dangerous or illegal the referee must order the player to remove it. The player must not take part in the match until the items of clothing are removed.
(c) If, at an inspection before the match, the referee or a touch judge tells a player that an item banned under this Law is being worn, and the player is subsequently found to be wearing that item on the playing area, that player is sent off for misconduct.
Sanction: A penalty kick is awarded at the place where play is restarted.
One way or another, wearing that boot was wrong. That single stud is regarded as particularly dangerous. If Tialata had injured somebody wearing an illegal boot he – and possibly others – could have ended in serious trouble.
