LAW 9. BALL OR PLAYER TOUCHING REFEREE

(1)

If the ball or a player carrying it touches the referee in the field-of-play, play shall continue unless the referee considers either team has gained an advantage in which case he shall order a scrummage. The team which last played the ball shall put it in.

(2)

(a)

If the ball in a player's possession or a player carrying it touches the referee in that player's In-goal, a touchdown shall be awarded.

(b)

If a player carrying the ball in his opponents' In-goal touches the referee before grounding the ball, a try shall be awarded at that place.

Notes:-

(i)

If the ball, while in play in In-goal at either end but not held by a player, touches the referee, a touch judge, or a spectator, a touch-down shall be awarded provided that a touch-down would otherwise have been obtained or the ball would have gone into touch-in-goal or on or over the deadball line.

(ii)

If the ball while in play in In-goal at either end, but not held by a player, touches the referee, a touch judge, or a spectator, a try shall be awarded at that place provided an attacking player would otherwise have scored it.

(iii)

When the ball touches a spectator in either of the above cases, if the referee is in doubt, the award shall be made to the visiting team if that team is the defending team under (i) or the attacking team under (ii).

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