Règle 26. JEU DELOYAL

Foul Play is any action by a player which is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Game and includes obstruction, unfair play, misconduct, dangerous play, unsporting behaviour, retaliation and repeated infringements.

Obstruction

(1) It is illegal for any player:-

(a) who is running for the ball to charge or push an opponent also running for the ball, except shoulder to shoulder,

(b) who is in an off-side position wilfully to run or stand in front of another player of his team who is carrying the ball, thereby preventing an opponent from reaching the latter player,

(c) who is carrying the ball after it has come out of a scrummage, ruck, maul or line-out, to attempt to force his way through the players of his team in front of him,

(d) who is an outside player in a scrummage to prevent an opponent from advancing around the scrummage.

Penalty:- Penalty kick at the place of infringement. A penalty try may be awarded.

Notes:- (i) There are no circumstances in which a player carrying the ball can be penalised for obstruction.

(ii) The referee should note that:-

(a) The intention of this Law as regards the penalties to be imposed for serious forms of obstruction must be applied.

(b) If a player is guilty of charging or obstructing or holding an opponent who is not carrying the ball or any other form of foul play, before any other action is taken the player must at once be cautioned or ordered off. If he offends a second time, the referee has no alternative to ordering him off. If the offence prevents a try which probably would otherwise have been scored, a penalty try must be awarded.

(c) The intention of the Council of the International Board is that if the referee has any doubt as to the balance of probability, he should give the benefit of the doubt in favour of the non-offending team and award the penalty try.

Unfair Play, Repeated Infringements

(2) It is illegal for any player:-

(a) deliberately to play unfairly or wilfully infringe any Law of the Game,

(b) wilfully to waste time,

(c) wilfully to knock or throw the ball from the playing area into touch, touch-in-goal or over the dead-ball line,

(d) to infringe repeatedly any Law of the Game.

Penalty-: For (b) and (c) a free kick, and for (a) and (d) a penalty kick at the place of infringement. A penalty try may be awarded.

For offences under 2(c) occurring in In-goal, Law 14 penalty (e) applies.

For offences under 2(d) a player may be cautioned and, if he repeats the offence, must be ordered off.

Misconduct, Dangerous Play

(3) It is illegal for any player:-

(a) to strike an opponent

(b) wilfully to hack or kick an opponent or to trip him with the foot or to trample on an opponent lying on the ground,

(c) to tackle early, or late or dangerously, including the action known as ³a stiff arm tackle²,

(d) who is not running for the ball wilfully to charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball,

(e) to hold, push, charge, obstruct or grasp an opponent not holding the ball except in a scrummage, ruck or maul.

(Except in a scrummage or ruck the dragging away of a player lying close to the ball is permitted. Otherwise pulling any part of the clothing of an opponent is holding.)

(f) in the front row of a scrummage to form down some distance from the opponents and rush against them,

(g) in the front row of a scrummage wilfully to lift an opponent off his feet or force him upwards out of the scrummage,

(h) wilfully to cause a scrummage, ruck or maul to collapse,

(i) while the ball is out of play to molest, obstruct or in any way interfere with an opponent or be guilty of any form of misconduct,

(j) to commit any misconduct on the playing area which is prejudicial to the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Penalty:- A player guilty of misconduct or dangerous play shall either be ordered off or else cautioned that he will be ordered off if he repeats the offence. For a similar offence after caution, the player must be ordered off.
In addition to a caution or ordering off a penalty try or a penalty kick shall be awarded as follows:-

(i) If the offence prevents a try which would otherwise probably have been scored, a penalty try shall be awarded.

(ii) The place for a penalty kick shall be:-

(a) For offences other than under paragraphs (d) and (i), at the place of infringement.

(b) For an infringement under (d) the non-offending team shall have the option of taking the kick at the place of infringement or where the ball alights, and if the ball alights
* in touch, the mark is fifteen metres from the touch line on a line parallel to the goal lines on a line parallel to the goal lines through the place where it went into touch, or
* within fifteen metres from the touch line, it is fifteen metres from the touch line on a line parallel to the goal lines through the place where it alighted, or
* in In-goal, touch-in-goal, or over or on the dead-ball line, it is five metres from the goal line on a line parallel to the touch line through the place where it crossed the goal line or fifteen metres from the touch line whichever is the greater. When the offence takes place in touch the ³place of infringement² in the optional penalty award is fifteen metres from the touch line opposite to where the offence took place:-
* If the offence take place in touch-in-goal, the ³place of infringement² in the optional penalty award is in the field-of-play five metres from the goal-line and fifteen metres from the touch-line.

(c) For an offence under (i), at any place where the ball would next have been brought into play if the offence had not occurred, or, if that place is on the touch line, fifteen metres from that place, on a line parallel to the goal lines.

(iii) For an infringement in In-goal, a penalty kick is to be awarded as provided for under Law 14 Penalties.

(iv) For an offence under Law 26(3)(i), the penalty kick is to be taken at whichever is the place where play would re-start, that is
* at the twenty-two metre line (at any point the non-offending team may select), or
* at the centre of the half-way line, or
* if a scrummage five metres from the goal line would otherwise have been awarded, at that place or fifteen metres from the touch line on a line five metres from and parallel to the goal line, whichever is the greater.

(v) For an offence which occurs outside the playing area while the ball is still in play and which is not otherwise covered in the foregoing, the penalty kick shall be awarded in the playing area fifteen metres from the touch line and opposite to where the offence took place.

(vi) For an offence reported by a touch-judge under Law 6B(6) a penalty kick may be awarded where the offence occurred or advantage may be played.

(4) It is illegal for a team to adopt ploys known as:-

(a) The Flying Wedge; and

(b) The Cavalry Charge

as described in Notes (xii) and (xiii).

Penalty:- Penalty Kick at the place of the original infringement.

Notes: - (iii) "Playing the man without the ball" and all forms of dangerous tackling including early, late and stiff arm "tackling"or tackling or attempting to tackle a player around the neck or head or above the line of the shoulders must be punished severely. Players who wilfully resort to this type of foul play must be ordered off the field. Advantage should be played, but a penalty try must be awarded if the dangerous tackle prevents a probable try.

(iv) It is for the referee to decide what constitutes a dangerous tackle, having regard to the circumstances, e.g. the apparent intentions of the tackler, or the nature of the tackle, or the defenceless position of the player being tackled or knocked over, which may be the cause of serious injury.

(v) The following actions constitute dangerous play:-

(a) If a player charges or knocks down an opponent carrying the ball without any attempt to grasp him (as in a tackle);

(b) If a player taps or pulls the foot or feet of another player who is jumping in a line-out;

(c) If a player attempts to tackle a player who, when fielding a kick in open play, is off the ground jumping for the ball.

(vi) A player shall not ³take the law into his own hands² nor wilfully do anything that is dangerous to an opponent even if the latter is infringing the Laws.

(vii) If a player is obstructed after kicking the ball and the ball strikes a goal post, the optional penalty should be awarded where the ball alights after bouncing off the post.

(viii) If a penalty kick has been awarded and, before the kick has been taken, the offending team infringes Law 26(3)(i), the referee should:-

(a) caution or order off the player guilty of misconduct and

(b) in addition advance the mark for the penalty kick ten metres, this to cover both the original infringement and the misconduct.

(ix) If a penalty kick is awarded to a team and before the kick is taken, a player of that team infringes Law 26(3)(i) the referee should:-
(a) caution or order off the player guilty of misconduct and
(b) declare the penalty kick void and
(c) award a penalty kick against the team last guilty of misconduct.

(x) The referee should note that:-

(a) Repeated infringement is a question of fact and not a question of whether the offender intended to infringe.
(b) If the same player has to be penalised repeatedly he should be dealt with under Law 26(2)(d).

(c) Foul play must not be condoned.

(d) Repeated infringements arise mainly in connection with Scrummages, Off-side and Line-outs. If a player has been penalised for infringing one of these Laws several times in the same match, he should be cautioned and, if he repeats the offence, ordered off.

(e) It is a question for the referee whether or not a series of the same offences by different players of a team amounts to repeated infringement. If he considers that is does, he should give a general warning to that team and, if the offence if repeated, he must order the offending player off the field.

(f) In deciding the number of offences which should constitute ³repeated infringement² the referee should always apply a strict standard in representative and senior matches. On the third occasion a caution must be given.

In the case of junior or minor matches where ignorance of the Laws and lack of skill may account for many infringements, a less strict standard may be applied.

(xi) The International Board and the Unions in membership with it will fully support referees in the strict and uniform enforcement of the Law as to repeated infringements.

(xii) Flying Wedge.

This move usually occurs close to the opponents goal line when a penalty kick or a free kick is awarded to the attacking team, and is initiated by a player either tapping the ball to himself or receiving a short pass, and then driving towards the goal line with his colleagues binding onto either side of him in a V or wedge formation. Frequently the player is isolated illegally by those of his own team in front of him. The dangers inherent in this formation are not for those initiating the move but for those trying to stop it.

(xiii) The Cavalry Charge.

A cavalry charge usually occurs when a penalty kick or free kick is awarded to the attacking team close to the opponents goal line. Players of the attacking team line up behind the kicker, spacing themselves across the field in gaps of a metre or two. On a signal from the kicker they begin to charge forward. Only when they are close to the kicker does he tap kick the ball and pass it to one of them. The defending team has to remain behind a line 10 metres from the mark of their own goal line (if nearer) until the ball has been kicked. The move is potentially dangerous.

Players Ordered Off

A player who is ordered off shall take no further part in the match. When a player is ordered off, the referee shall, as soon as possible after the match, send to the Union or other disciplinary body having jurisdiction over the match a report naming the player and describing the circumstances which necessitated the ordering off. The Union or other disciplinary body having jurisdiction over the match, shall consider such report and any other evidence they deem appropriate. The player ordered off shall have the right to be heard if he so desires and to produce video film or photographic evidence. They shall then take such action and impose such punishment as they see fit.

Citing of Players

Where a player commits an act of foul play which has not been detected by match officials, either of the Unions or affiliated organisations participating in the match have the discretion to cite that player to show cause why he should not be held accountable in the same way as a player who has been ordered off.