IRB's time ruling

The French Rugby Federation asked the International Rugby Board for a ruling on the timing of the final whistle.

Ruling Required

Law 5 – Time

Law 5.4 stipulates that “time-keeping may be delegated to an official responsible for time keeping”.

Law 5.7 (e) stipulates that “if time expires and the ball is not dead or a scrum or line-out has been awarded, the referee allows play to continue until the next time that the ball becomes dead.”

The ball is dead “when it has gone outside the playing area, or when the referee has blown the whistle for a stoppage, or when a conversion kick has been taken.”

Law 20.4 (g) sets out that “if a scrum collapses or lifts up in the air without penalty a further scrum will be ordered and the team who originally threw in the ball will throw the ball in again.”

Situation 1

Following these provisions, the French Rugby Federation would like a ruling from the Designated Members with regards to the situation as described below:

1. The referee awards a scrum for Team A.

2. After blowing the whistle for this scrum and setting it up, there is the siren indicating the end of the match (real playing time).

3. The referee allows for this scrum to be played.

4. The ball is put in then the scrum collapses without any penalty from either team.

5. The referee blows the whistle.

The “technical” decision to be made would be to award a new scrum.

Question

Does the referee have to have this scrum played or does he have to blow for the end of the match?

For an “identical” situation for a line-out in the facts chronology, the French Rugby Federation would like the following ruling:

Situation 2

1. The ball is kicked in touch by Team A.

2. After the line-out has been formed, there is the siren indicating the end of the match (real playing time).

3. The referee allows for this line-out to be played.

4. The Team B thrower does not throw the ball straight.

5. The referee blows the whistle.

The “technical” decision to be made would be to give the choice to Team A between a new line-out or a scrum.

Question 2

Does the referee have to give the choice to the opposing team (line-out to be redone or scrum) or does he have to blow for the end of the match?

Ruling

Situation 1

Despite the Referee being able to delegate responsibility for time keeping the referee is still the sole judge of fact and Law and the game ends with the referee’s whistle.

The scrum has been set in playing time and collapses. The referee is obliged to blow the whistle in accordance with Law 6.A.8 (g). The original scrum has not been completed and has had to be reformed in accordance with Law 20.4 (g) and therefore the match would continue and end at the next stoppage of play in accordance with Law 5.7 (e).

Situation 2

The referee ends the match as there has been an offence that ensures that the ball is dead after the line-out has been completed and therefore the match ends in accordance with Law 5.7 (e).