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New WRU pathway laws - important changes that all clubs should be aware of

New WRU pathway laws - important changes that all clubs should be aware of

Gary Williams26 Jul 2015 - 08:17
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The latest updates to the WRU Pathway Laws.

MIXED UNDER 9’S - EARLY CONTACT RUGBY

EARLY CONTACT RUGBY RULES:
•For all free passes a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot. If pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again
•Defenders must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded
•Defenders can only advance when the ball has been passed
•Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) only one tackler allowed
•After the 6th tackle the opposition receive the ball
•If the tackle is high then a free pass is awarded to the non offending team
•If a player is held in the tackle then he must pass or place the ball after 3 seconds.
•The defence can only tackle they are not allowed to contest for the ball.
•Acting scrum half must pass the ball without delay (no pick and go)
•No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team
•The off side line are 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
•If a hand off occurs the referee will award a free pass to the non offending team
•If a knock on occurs a scrum is awarded
•Rolling replacements
•Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline
•A player may only play one year up

Clothing
•Players are allowed to wear approved leggings

NB - At all levels the cavalry charge is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry charge

“When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker

At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker”

Sanction: Penalty at the place of infringement


MIXED UNDER 10’S – EARLY CONTACT RUGBY

WORLD RUGBY under 19 Laws apply apart from:

EARLY CONTACT RUGBY RULES:
•For all free passes and free kicks a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot. If pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again
•Defenders must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded
•Defenders can only advance when the ball has been passed or the attacking player choses to run
•Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) there can be more than 1 tackler
•1st player to the breakdown can pick and go before the ruck has formed
•After the tackle one player from each team can contest for the ball, this can be any player involved in the tackle or another arriving player.
•Acting scrum half must pass the ball after a ruck has been formed
•The off side line are 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
•No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team
•Rolling replacements
•Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline

SCRUMS: All scrums must follow the World Rugby process, Crouch, Bind, Set

A non contested scrum will be awarded for knock ons and forward passes
•The team putting in must win it
•Neither team is permitted to push

Both scrummages must be of the same formation, 10 a side, maximum 5 forwards, 3:2 formation

A player who is a member of the scrum cannot pick up the ball

SCRUM HALF : The offside line for the scrum half is the mid line of the scrummage

The opposing scrum half must remain at the tunnel otherwise a free kick will be awarded

Scrum half must pass the ball from the scrum

LINEOUT: No, Free pass from 5m in from touch line

KICKING: Only in your own 22m area, No “fly hacking”

RESTART: Free pass to the non scoring side on halfway

PENALTY: All penalties are free kicks

HAND OFF: A player must not hand off/fend off an opponent in any way.

Penalty: Free kick to non offending team

Definition: A hand off, fend off is: “Any movement of the hand or arm to ward off an opponent.”

METHOD OF Tries and conversions only

SCORING: Notes:-
(i) If goal posts are available on the mini pitch, conversions are to be taken from in front of the posts
(ii) If goal posts are available only on the full size pitch, conversions are to be taken in front of the goal posts

After a try the referee must allow all players to get back to their respective sides before the restart

If a team persists in offending at the breakdown close to the defensive try line, then the referee may award a penalty try.

Clothing - Players are allowed to wear approved leggings

NB At all levels the cavalry charge is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry charge

“When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker

At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker”

Sanction: Penalty at the place of infringement


MIXED UNDER 11’s CONTACT RUGBY

WORLD RUGBY under 19 Laws apply apart from:

RUGBY RULES:
•For all free passes, free kicks and penalties a player must place the ball on the floor and tap it forward with the foot. If pass is taken incorrectly it must be taken again
•Defending team must retreat 5m when a free pass is awarded
•Waist high tackle or lower (the waist is the line of the shorts) there can be more than one tackler
•1st player to the breakdown can pick and go before the ruck has formed
•After the tackle one player from each team can contest for the ball, this can be any player involved in the tackle or another arriving player
•Acting scrum half must pass the ball after a ruck has been formed
•The off side line are 1m back from the rear most part of the body at the tackle area
•No mauling allowed, if a maul is formed a free pass is given to the non offending team
•Rolling replacements
•Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline

SCRUMS: All scrums must follow the World Rugby process, Crouch, Bind, Set

Passive (no pushing or wheeling) both hookers may strike for the ball

Five forwards (maximum) 3:2 formation.

A player who is a member of the scrum cannot pick up the ball. Penalty: penalty kick to the non offending team.

SCRUM HALF : The offside line for the scrum half is the mid line of the scrummage

The opposing scrum half must remain at the tunnel otherwise a free kick will be awarded

Scrum half must pass the ball from the scrum

If the opposition hooker wins the ball the opposition scrum half is allowed to pass the ball from the base of the scrum

LINE OUT: Four man uncontested. No catch and drive permitted

The line out will consist of the thrower plus four in the line

No lifting allowed

The ball must enter the line out above head height.

If the throwing in team knock on the throw is taken again.

Participants in the lineout are not allowed to peel

Off side lines remain until the scrum half passes the ball.

KICKING: Only in your own half.

Team scoring to drop kick to opposition to restart game

HAND OFF: A player must not hand off/fend off an opponent in any way.

Penalty: Free kick to non offending team

Definition: A hand off, fend off is: “Any movement of the hand or arm to ward off an opponent.”

PENALTY: All penalties are free kicks

METHOD OF Tries and conversions only

SCORING: Notes:-
(i) If goal posts are available on the mini pitch, conversions are to be taken from in front of the posts
(ii) If goal posts are available only on the full size pitch, conversions are to be taken in front of the goal posts

After a try the referee must allow all players to get back to their respective sides before the restart

If a team persists in offending at the breakdown close to the defensive try line, then the referee may award a penalty try.

Clothing
•Players are allowed to wear approved leggings

NB At all levels the cavalry charge is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry charge

“When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker

At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker”

Sanction: Penalty at the place of infringement


MIXED UNDER 12’s (15-A-SIDE) CONTACT RUGBY

WORLD RUGBY under 19 Laws apply apart from:

RUGBY RULES: Eight forwards, seven backs, rolling replacements. Players must leave and enter the field of play at the halfway touchline.

Full World Rugby laws regarding the contact area.

SCRUMS: All scrums must follow World Rugby process, Crouch, Bind, Set.

Eight man contested scrummage with 0.5m maximum push.

Both hookers may strike for the ball

Both scrummages must be 3-4-1 formation

The No8 can pick up the ball

SCRUM HALF: The offside line for the scrum half at a scrum is the mid line of the scrimmage

The scrum half may pass or run from the scrum

LINEOUT: Full lineout, uncontested, no catch and drive.

No lifting

Penalty: Penalty kick to the non offending team

The ball must enter the lineout above head height.

If the ball is knocked on the opposition will have the choice of a lineout or scrum.

No shortened lineouts

The lineout ends according to World Rugby laws

KICKING: The non scoring team to re-start with a drop kick

Kicking is allowed anywhere on the field

HAND OFF: A hand off to the chest is permitted. There will be no hand off to the face.

PENALTY: Penalties may be kicked from the hand

For tap penalties, a player must place the ball on the ground and tap it forward with the foot

A penalty kick at goal will be allowed for offences committed only in the 22m area.

If a try is scored beyond the 15m area the kick at goal will be taken from the 15m line

NB At all levels the cavalry charge is not allowed

Definition of a Cavalry charge

“When the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick or free kick either a single player stands some distance behind the kicker or attacking players form a line across the field some distance from the kicker

At a signal from the kicker they charge forward. When they get near the kicker tap kicks the ball and passes to a player who had started some distance behind the kicker”

Sanction: Penalty at the place of infringement

Further reading