LAW 6. REFEREE AND TOUCH JUDGES

A. Referee

There shall be a referee for every match. He shall be appointed by or under the authority of the Union or, in case no such authorized referee has been appointed, a referee may be mutually agreed upon between the teams or, failing such agreement, he shall be appointed by the home team.

(2)

If the referee is unable to officiate for the whole period of a match a replacement shall be appointed either in such manner as may be directed by the Union or, in the absence of such direction, by the referee or, if he is unable to do so, by the home team.

(3)

The referee shall keep the time and the score, and he must in every match apply fairly the Laws of the Game without any variation or omission, except only when the Union has authorized the application of an experimental law approved by the Council.

Notes:-

(i): If the referee is in doubt as to the correct time he should consult either or both of the touch judges. Only if the information given by them is insufficient may he consult another person.
(ii): Where the referee allows time for delays the time must be made up in the half of the match in which the delay occurs.
(iii): The referee has power to declare no-side before time has expired if, in his opinion, the full time cannot for any reason be played or continuance of play would be dangerous.
(iv): Where a player is injured, the referee should not allow more than one minute's delay unless a longer period is necessary to remove the player, or to give essential treatment on the playing area.
(v): The referee should not allow time for injury if he has reason to believe that a player is feigning injury. In such circumstances he should order the player to be removed immediately from the playing area and then order play to be resumed forthwith.
(vi): The referee should, when the ball is dead, allow time for a player to replace or repair a badly torn jersey or shorts. He must not allow time for a player to re-tie or repair a bootlace.

(4)

He must not give any instruction or advice to either team prior to the match. During the match he must not consult with anyone except only

(a): Either or both touch judges on a point of fact relevant to their functions, or on matters relating to Law 26(3), or
(b): in regard to time.

(5)

During a match, the referee is the sole judge of fact and of law. All his decisions are binding on the players. He cannot alter a decision except when given before he observes that a touch judge's flag is raised or before he has received a report related to Law 26(3) from a touch judge.

(6)

The referee must carry a whistle and must blow it

(a): to indicate the beginning of the match, half-time, resumption of play after half-time, no-side, a score or a touch-down, and
(b): to stop play because of infringement or otherwise as required by Laws.

Notes:-
(vii)
The referee has power to stop the match at any time by blowing his whistle but he must not do so except on the occasions indicated in Law 6A (6) which include the following:-

(a)
when he orders a scrummage

(b)
when the ball has gone into touch or touch- in-goal. or touched or crossed the dead-ball lines;

(c)
when the ball has been grounded in In-goal;

(d)
when the ball is unplayable

(e)
when he stops the ball for an offense under Law 26(3) prior to ordering off or cautioning the offender; and in such a case he must whistle a second time when he awards the penalty try or kick

(f)
when he awards a penalty kick or free kick;

(g)
when he allows a fair-catch;

(h)
when the ball or a player carrying it has touched him and one team has therefrom gained an advantage;

(i)
when a player is injured but only when the ball next becomes dead unless (j) below applies;

(j)
when continuation of play would be dangerous, including the collapse of a scrummage.

(viii)
The referee should whistle for halftime or no- side as soon as time has expired if the ball be dead or if the ball be in play when the time has expired, as soon as the ball next becomes dead.
If the ball becomes dead after time has expired

(a)
as the result of a try the referee shall allow the kick to be taken and then whistle for half-time or no-side, or if it be

(b)
as the result of a fair-catch, free kick or penalty kick the referee shall allow play to proceed until the ball next becomes dead.

If time expires before the ball is put into a scrummage or is thrown in from touch, the referee must whistle for half-time or no-side.

(7)

During a match no person other than the players, the referee and the touch judges may be within the playing enclosure or the playing area unless with the permission of the referee which shall be given only for a special and temporary purpose.

Play may continue during minor injuries with a medically trained person being permitted to come on to the playing area to attend the player or the player going to the touch line. Continuation of play during minor injuries is subject to the referee's permission and to his authority to stop play at any time.

At half time the referee shall allow the coach of each team on to the playing area to attend to their teams.

Notes:-

(ix): If the referee decides to stop play in the terms of Section (7) but without an infringement having occurred or without the ball being dead, he should restart play with a scrummage and the ball shall be put in by the team last in possession or otherwise by the attacking team.
(x): The referee should, when necessary, but not before he indicates his permission, allow baggage attendants, doctors or first-aid personnel other than as provided in Section (7) to enter the playing enclosure and playing area.

(8)

(a): All players must respect the authority of the referee and they must not dispute his decisions. They must (except in the case of a kick-off) stop playing at once when the referee has blown his whistle.
(b): A player must when so requested, whether before or during the match, allow the referee to inspect his dress.
(c): A player must not leave the playing enclosure without the referee's permission. If player retires during a match because of injury or otherwise, he must not resume playing in that match until the referee has given him permission.
(d): A player who has an open or bleeding wound must leave the playing area until such time as the bleeding is controlled and the wound is covered or dressed. Such a player may be replaced on a temporary basis but if unable to resume playing the replacement becomes permanent.

If the replacement player is sent off for foul play the player being treated may not return to the field.
If the temporary replacement is injured another replacement is permitted.
If the player being treated has been unable to return to the field and has been replaced he is not permitted subsequently to return to the field because he has been replaced in terms of Law 3(4)(b).
If a suitable replacement is not available any action by a referee should be in accordance with Law 6A Note (iii).
Notes:-

(xi)
Apart from injury the referee should not allow a player to leave the playing enclosure except in special circumstances.
The referee should not permit a player to resume until the ball is dead.

(xii)
In the event of a front row forward being ordered off, the referee, in the interests of safety, will confer with the captain of his team to determine whether another player is suitably trained/experienced to take his position; if not the captain shall nominate one other forward to leave the playing area and the referee will permit a substitute front row forward to replace him. This may take place immediately or after another player has been tried in the position.
When there is no other front row forward available due to a sequence of players ordered off or injured or both, then the game will continue with non-contestable scrummages as defined in the Standard Set of Variations to the Laws of the Game at Under 19 Level, Law 20, Section 4(f).

(xiii)
The referee must not permit a team or individual players to leave the playing area in order to change jerseys.

(xiv)
If a player who has retired on account of injury or other reason resumes playing without the permission of the referee, the referee should impose penalties for misconduct if he considers that the offense was willful for the purpose of assisting his team or obstructing the opponents. If the offense was not willful interference and if the offending team gains an advantage the referee should order a scrummage at the place where the player resumed playing without permission, and the opposing team shall put in the ball.

Penalty:- Infringement by a player is subject to penalty as misconduct.

B. Touch Judges

(1)

There shall be two touch judges for every match. Unless touch judges have been appointed by or under the authority of the Union, it shall be the responsibility of each team to provide a touch judge.

(2)

A touch judge is under the control of the referee who may instruct him as to his duties and may over-rule any of his decisions. The referee may request that an unsatisfactory touch judge be replaced and he has power to order off and report to the Union a touch judge who in his opinion is guilty of misconduct.

(3)

Each touch judge shall carry a flag (or other suitable object) to signal his decisions. There shall be one touch judge on each side of the ground and he shall remain in touch except when judging a kick at goal.

(4)

He must hold up his flag when the ball or a player carrying it has gone into touch and must indicate the place of throw in and which team is entitled to do so. He must also signal to the referee when the ball or a player carrying it has gone into touch-in-goal.

(5)

The touch judge shall lower his flag when the ball has been thrown in except on the following occasions when he must keep it raised:-

(a): when the player throwing in the ball puts any part of either foot in the field-of-play,
(b): when the ball has not been thrown in by the team entitled to do so,
(c): when, at a quick throw-in, the ball that went into touch is replaced by another or is touched by anyone other than the player throwing it in.

It is for the referee to decide whether or not the ball has been thrown in from the correct place.

(6)

In matches in which a national representative team is playing and in such domestic matches for which a Union gives express permission, and where referees recognized by the Union are appointed as touch judges, the touch judges shall report incidents of foul play and misconduct under Law 26 (3) to the referee for the match.

A touch judge shall signal such an incident to the referee by raising his flag to a horizontal position pointing directly across the field at a right angle to the touch line. The touch judge must remain in touch and continue to carry out his other functions until the next stoppage in play when the referee shall consult him regarding the incident. The referee may then take whatever action he deems appropriate and any consequent penalties shall be in accordance with Law 26(3).

Notes:-

(xv): After a touch judge has signaled an incident under Law 26(3) he may enter the field-of-play at the next stoppage to report to the referee.

(7)

When a kick at goal from a try or penalty kick is being taken both touch judges must assist the referee by signaling the result of the kick. One touch judge shall stand at or behind each of the goal posts and shall raise his flag if the ball goes over the crossbar.

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