Archive Whistleblower

FRONT ROW SAFETY GONE MAD

Another amazing Law Variation is revealed


15.3.6 U16s and U17s can train and play up one age grade (including in the front row of the scrum) or two age grades (but not including in the front row of contested scrums if an U16 player is playing 15 a-side rugby), if recommended by the player’s Club or School provided that:…… it is possible that this dispensation may result in the player playing with and/or against one or more U19 players who are playing down in accordance with Regulation 15.4.3; and (d) an appropriate assessment is carried out.


15.3.8 In respect of England Academy Players:

(a) an U16 England Academy Player can play up two age grades in the front row of the scrum provided that in each case the prior written consent of the RFU Elite Player Development Manager is obtained;


The key wording is in the third line of the first paragraph and if it didn’t exactly jump out at you don’t worry. It was introduced at the start of the season and I have to say crept in on the blind side as far as I was concerned. Translated, because you would need legal aid to negotiate your way through the endless directives under these “Age Regulations,” it means that if you are in Year 11 at school and play in the front row you are not permitted to scrummage; that effectively means that unless your front row is made up of Upper and Lower Sixth Form players the game will be played with uncontested scrums. One exception is detailed in the second paragraph and again, for practical purposes, indicates that an Under 16 player who has reached regional standard (in the North West for instance a recognised member of the Sale Academy would be eligible) is allowed to take part in a contested scrum.


News of this brainwave came my way just a few weeks ago when I watched a game in the RBS Daily Mail U.18 Schools Competition which was played with uncontested scrums. Both teams had liaised before the kick-off and had agreed, as both had at least one U.!6 front row player, that for seventy minutes we would watch a method of restarting the game which looks far more ridiculous than anything you might see in Rugby League. Readers may not all be familiar with the Law Variations which apply to Under 19 rugby; for instance the scrum may only be pushed 1.5 metres. Alterations like this one are aimed at safety and the uncontested scrums directive is exactly that. But schoolmasters do not need to be ultra devious in preparing for a match where they know they are likely to be outgunned up front; they simply announce that their front row contains a Year 11 player and hey presto one problem has been removed. I am reliably informed that this is happening regularly.


To create yet more complication, and you will need to be very alert to have picked this up towards the end of the first paragraph, there is a reference to Under 19 players, i.e Third Year Sixth,” “playing down.” It seems that this is now authorised in the normal inter school fixture but not so for the Daily Mail Competition. Brian Moore is spot on with his continual assessment of the scrum at club and international  levels. Oh dear, he could have some fun with this one.    


David Matthews (25 11 2012)