Referees and the Tackle Laws

Referees…Apologies to my good friend and former international referee, David Matthews, for trespassing on his territory. But, as a simple observer of the laws of Rugby Union and confessing to know very few of them, I do feel that unless there is tolerance towards the merry whistler and the players over the next few months the 15 a side code could regularly be reduced to 13 a side by full time thanks to the finer details of the Tackle Laws and the subtle differences between a reckless tackle and an accidental tackle.

The RFU are rightly keen to make the game safe for all to play by paying careful attention to tackles made in contact with an opponent’s head and thereby reducing the possibility of any concussion problems for a player during a match or later in life. But, at the levels of play below that where TV replays and communication with another referee observing such replays is available, the difference between ‘Reckless’ tackle and ‘Accidental’ tackle is surely set to prove to be a nightmare for any referee.

Let me quote the new guideline for referees when deciding on a ‘Reckless’ tackle –“ A player is deemed to have made reckless contact during a tackle….if, in making contact, the player knew or should have known that there was a risk of making contact with the head of an opponent but did so anyway. This sanction applies even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. This type of contact also applies to grabbing and rolling/twisting around the head/neck area even if the contact starts below the line of the shoulders.”

So much so far!

But what about an ‘Accidental’ tackle which only is punishable by a penalty and which must be decided in a split second by a referee without any technical or human aids off the pitch? A penalty can be given for a situation where the ball carrier slips into the tackle! Imagine the situation where a 6’6 inches plus forward moves in to tackle a 5’3 inches half back who slips on his approach. The forward would have to be on his knees to make a fair tackle!

Rugby Union, with its emphasis very much on unit skills at the line out, the ruck, the maul, and the scrum is awash with laws which can stop the flow of a game. The introduction of the new guidelines regarding tackles which are in contact with the head and the resultant blowing of the whistle by the man in the middle might add to the reduction in the flow of a match. Or, ironically, in the final quarter of play, with teams perhaps reduced to fewer players, we might see some exciting running out wide.

Referees, players, and spectators must be tolerant over the next few months and all must adapt to and appreciate what is required when a tackle is made. What is an accidental, reckless or fair tackle will, at times, prove difficult to justify .The game of Rugby Union will lose so much which has made it attractive to so many players and spectators worldwide if it is to suffer an increase in the number of blasts on the referee’ whistle.  

 

Ray French,

Jan. 2017