Time clarification
World Rugby has sent out a clarification of Law 5 by the designated members of its Rugby Committee. Such a clarification is not (yet) law but has the force of law.
The match which led to the clarification was played between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield on Sunday, 15 February 2015. Scotland scored late in the match, a try by Jim Hamilton. Finn Russell hurried the conversion to make it 26-23 in favour of Wales. But after the conversion and before the kick-off, the referee, Glen Jackson, blew the final which led much to Scottish disappointment for the home side had sniffed greater success.
The clarification extends to a penalty near the end of the match when the non-offending team has thoughts of kicking for a line-out.
Both of these are important, practical issues.
Joël Jutge, World Rugby's referee manager asked for the clarification.
Law 5 deals with time.
The following is the wording of the clarification:
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of Rugby Committee Clarification
1 – 2015
Law Reference: Law 5
Date: February 23, 2015
Request
Following controversy after the Scotland v Wales game regarding the decision by the referee to blow the whistle for the end of the match, we would like a clarification in Law.
Scenario 1
A try is scored in the last minute of a game. The conversion is kicked and after the kick, there is between 5-10 seconds left on the clock, i.e. 79:50.
Question: Does the referee allow for a restart to be made or does he blow the whistle for the end of the match, when the clock shows 80 (i.e. 40 minutes)? There are a set of Law variations for Sevens which are different. In this specific case, why not consider the application of the Sevens variation which is clearer and could avoid such controversy?
Law for fifteen-a-side:
Law 5.7 (e) If time expires and the ball is not dead, or an awarded scrum or line-out has not been completed, the referee allows play to continue until the next time that the ball becomes dead. The ball becomes dead when the referee would have awarded a scrum, line-out, an option to the non-infringing team, drop out or after a conversion or successful penalty kick at goal. If a scrum has to be reset, the scrum has not been completed. If time expires and a mark, free kick or penalty kick is then awarded, the referee allows play to continue.
(f) If time expires after a try has been scored the referee allows time for the conversion kick to be taken.
Variation for Seven-a-side – in practice
The team scoring a try within the last 40 seconds may however take the kick or not and, providing they decline the kick or take the kick with time remaining, a restart will occur and the match will end at the next stoppage within Law. Time is taken from the strike on the ball.
Scenario 2
Can the same logic be applied to a penalty award at the end of the game, e.g. what happens if a penalty is awarded at 79:50 and the team wants to kick to touch and take a line-out?
Clarification of the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee
Scenario 1
A team scoring a try near the end of the match may take the conversion kick or not. Providing they decline to take the kick or take the kick within the time remaining, a restart will occur and the match will end at the next stoppage within Law. Time is taken from the strike on the ball.
In the specific query where the conversion was kicked at 79:50 then the referee should allow for a restart.
Scenario 2
The same logic applies, i.e. as long as the penalty kick is taken before 80:00 then the line-out will take place and the match will end at the next stoppage within Law. Time is taken from the strike on the ball.
