Issued: February 2007

The Game Management Guidelines are an amalgam of:

• The outcomes of the IRB’s Conference on the Game, held in Auckland, January 2004;
• The IRB’s Referee Aide Memoir which is a record of the outcomes of the IRB Referee and Referee Assessor Workshops in 2003 and Elite Referee Seminars in 2004, 2005 & 2006.
• The IRB Communication Protocols for match officials; and
• The agreed outcomes from the SANZAR Super 14 Workshop in December 2006.

The outcomes of the above conferences and workshops have been adapted to reflect the playing, coaching and refereeing of the game at community levels in Australian 2007. These Guidelines are also consistent with the ARU SmartRugby program which is mandatory for all referees and coaches at all levels of the game.

The purpose of this document is to ensure that all participants at the community level are aware of the areas of the game which require more specific coaching and/or consistent refereeing. It is also reinforced that the Law Book is the only on-field Game Management Document.

Further information or clarification can be obtained from Warren Robilliard or Kim Lees at the ARU or from State Coaching and Referee Managers.

SCRUMMAGE

From 1 Jan 2007, the scrum engagement sequence has been changed for all levels of the game in Australia.

The sequence to be observed by all players and referees is:

COUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE

CROUCH
Front row players must adopt the CROUCH position before the engagement. Head and shoulders must remain above the level of the hips, with knees bent sufficiently to make a simple forward movement into engagement. Players should keep their chin up and head straight in order to maintain the normal and safe alignment of the cervical spine.

TOUCH
The TOUCH requires each prop, using their outside arm, to touch the point of their opposing prop’s outside shoulder. This is done to standardize the distance between the two sets of forwards. The props then withdraw their arms.

PAUSE
The PAUSE then is to give players time to see that this safe alignment has been made and to sight their target area before they engage,

ENGAGE
The ENGAGE call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready. On the ENGAGE call, the front rows should engage the opposition firmly with a short horizontal movement and the props should draw with their outside arms to take binds. In this position, all players must be able to support their own weight and maintain body shape and pressure on the opposition scrum.

Safety at the scrum is paramount.

The following management routine will assist all participants in obtaining greater
consistency and safety in this phase of the game

• The referee’s call should be spaced so that each stage is separated
• Referees should manage the sequence so that both teams comply with the correct process.
  • If after initial management, a team does not comply with any step of the process, the appropriate sanction (Free Kick) should be applied.

Pre-engagement

• Scrum half should be at the scrum ready to throw in the ball in as soon as the scrums have engaged and are steady & stable (and the referee has moved away from the scrum).
• Teams should set up at the mark without undue delay
• When instructed, both teams should crouch to the same height
• The distance between the front rows is an arms length (established by the touch)
• Teams must remain stationary in the crouched position until they hear the “Engage” call
• Zero tolerance on early engagements and pulling out (safety)
• The engagement (hit) should be square – players should drive straight through

Post Engagement

• Front row must bind on engagement and on the body – no hands on ground
• Scrum to be square and steady after engagement and before throw in
• Scrum half should stand on middle line to throw-in the ball
• The feed should be “Credible” throughout the game – Free Kick if non-compliance
• Check binding and angles of front row for boring, twisting and dipping
• Back row binding (no early release or binding on front row)

Binding (PK offence)

• All players must bind correctly:
  • Props to keep their binding, and not bore in, up or twist or dip.
  • Back rows must be correctly bound until the ball is out – no leaving early.
  • Flankers must be bound on locks not props.
  • No. 8 changing position in the scrum can be done if within law.
• Referees should manage and penalise as necessary

Collapsed scrums

• Referees should be strict on collapsed scrums and reset or penalise – this is a safety issue
• Be consistent and penalise appropriately.
• Coaches and Referees should ensure players are aware of the Mayday procedures (refer SmartRugby documentation) and their application.

Scrum Wheels

• No early wheel before the ball is fed.
• “Whip” wheels (pulling back by tight heads) are illegal and should be dealt with – verbal as “pulling back”.

Other

• Engagement communication process needs to be consistent throughout the match
• Defending No. 9 cannot touch the scrum or get in front of the ball or unfairly disrupting ball clearance.
• Ensure flankers, No. 8 and No. 9 do not obstruct at the back of the scrum – e.g. if the No. 8 breaking off when the ball emerges and obstructing the opposition No. 9 from getting to his team’s No. 9.

TACKLE

Tackle protocol
The tackle protocol (order of priority) is:

• Tackler.
• Tackled player
• Arriving players.

Areas to be aware of:

• Circumstances at each tackle (i.e. who “wins the tackle”) may dictate the order of observation and management
• Accuracy is essential to avoid affecting the outcome of matches
• Ball must be available immediately irrespective of the body position of the tackled player.
• Tackled player cannot change body position (e.g. squeeze ball) to delay the release of the ball
• Team mates of the tackler who join on to the ball carrier prior to him being tackled (going to ground) must roll away or get up. These players are subject to penalty if they remain there and prevent an opponent contesting the ball.
• Zero tolerance for tacklers who do not move away or prevent the ball from being played
• Tackler who regains his feet must release the tackled player before he plays the ball.
• Tackler is defined as a player who goes to ground and is the only player who can come from "the wrong side".
• Zero tolerance on players who do not enter through the gate and impact on the game
• Unplayables are acceptable if there is doubt as to the offender or there is no offence.
• Unplayables should be blown quickly
• A number of unplayables may indicate a problem
• The following analogies apply to arriving players
  • “Plane taking off” is acceptable
  • “Plane landing” is not acceptable
  • “Fork Lift truck” when moving players is acceptable
  • If not using fork lift technique, players are planes landing and this is not acceptable

• Zero tolerance on wide hits and shoulder charges. Cleanout at the Tackle must be near the ball -coffee table approach, i.e. 1 metre width either side of the ball.