This Week in MARFU: Experimental Law Variation (ELV) Updates

We'll have two new ELV's that you should be mindful of as we get into the Spring Season. The first deals with the Scrumhalf's position relative to the scrum and the second deals with mauls. Read More to review the ELV updates. For full text of the rulings and anyone with an unnatural love of rulebooks can visit: http://www.usarugby.org/goto/referees

Scrumhalf Offsides at the scrum (Ruling 4)

Ruling - ELV Ruling 4 - Superseding ELV Ruling 2

The scrum half who is not throwing the ball into the scrum must either
take up a position at the same side of the scrum as the scrum half throwing in the ball, or behind the offside line for players not participating in the scrum (5 metres back from the hindmost player in that player's scrum).

Reference Law 20. 12 (a)

Once the ball has been won by a team, the scrum half of the team that does not win possession (and who has been either the scrum half throwing in the ball or the opposition scrum half who took up a position on the same side of the scrum as the scrum half throwing in the ball) may follow the ball in the scrum providing that that player does not put either foot in front of the ball. Reference Law 12. 12 (c)

The other option available to the scrum half is to move behind his or her offside line that runs through the hindmost foot of that player's team in the scrum. Providing that scrum half whose team does not win possession does not move away from the scrum until he or she reaches the offside line (Reference Law 20. 12 d). The scrum half can take up any position behind that offside line providing that he or she does not step over that offside line on either side of the scrum (Reference Law 20.12 (d) and Reference Law 20. 12 (e)) Providing the scrum half in opposition to the team that wins the ball does not go across the offside line (a line that runs through the hindmost foot of that player's team in the scrum) he or she does not have to stay close to the scrum.

In Summary

1. Both scrum halves must take up a position on the same side of the scrum as the scrum half throwing in the ball (the scrum half not throwing in the ball may be positioned behind the offside line for the non participants and must stay there until the scrum is over).

2. After the ball has been won the scrum half of the team who has not won the ball who was positioned next to the player throwing in the ball can do one of two things:

a. Follow the ball whilst remaining on side

b. Go directly back to the hindmost foot in the scrum and then take up a

position anywhere behind this offside line.

Maul Ending (Ruling 5)

If defenders leave the maul VOLUNTARILY as they cannot hold/stop the maul, the team in possession should not be penalized for obstruction as the maul has not ended. Defenders who then join the maul should do so at the front of the maul.

However, if defending players originally engaged within The Maul are removed unwillingly by the opposition until no defending players remain attached to The Maul, or players with the ball detach voluntarily then The Maul ceases and if the players bound around the ball continue to move forward it will be deemed to be Obstruction.