New laws in use for Premier 1 games from this week...

 
On Saturday we will see the implication of the New Laws that will be trialled in the Mitre 10 Cup this season, introduced into our Premier Club Competition. First off, we would like to thank all of our Clubs and Premier Club Coaches for allowing this to take place and especially our North Harbour Referees.
 
Trialling these New Laws in the second round of our Club Comp will be essential to the success of our Mitre 10 Campaign. We are only one of a handle full of Provincial unions trailing these Laws in our Club Competition. This will give our Players (Non Super) and Coaches a head start in how we will address the tackle and breakdown, it will give us a greater understanding of the implications on how the new Laws will effect the game.
 
Our North Harbour Referees met with our Prem Club Coaches and demonstrated how they will interpret the Laws and this was demonstrated by our Wider Training Group and Academy players. This was then followed up by Referees attending Club trainings before this weekends Round of Premier Club Rugby.
 
At first glance you will see teams attacking for longer periods of time and teams defending longer, so players need to be in the best aerobic condition possible. Set piece will be vital and there will more contest here to be able to retrieve the ball as we will see with Kickoffs and 22’s restarts.
 
Teams will be able to look after the ball longer and the brekdown Law has taken away all rights to the defender over the ball. Teams that have good continuity in their game will benefit.
 
We don’t know exactly how this will look and Referees will do their best to interpret and give clarity where necessary and it will take a couple of weks to get used to.
 
Again we appreciate the support shown from our Referees and Clubs and we look forward to working with everyone.

Below is an outline of the Laws and some explaination from our referees, looks confusing and a lot but it really isnt.
 
Law 15 & 16 Trial Application Notes
 
Law 15: The Tackle

1. The tackler must release the ball carrier then re-join the tackle behind the mid-point to play the ball. Tackler has no special rights as a result of going to ground.
2. The first arriving defender may play the ball as long as they are on their feet, and prior to the breakdown being formed. This player needs to be in a position where they can play the ball (i.e. run, pass, kick), and not merely in a low body position jackaled over the ball.
3. All other aspects of the tackle remain unchanged.
4. Players off their feet are out of the game!!!!

 
Law 16: Breakdown (previously Ruck)

1. The breakdown is formed when an attacking player is over the ball on their feet. They may grip onto the tackled player to provide structure for the breakdown provided they are still using their legs to support their own body weight.
2. At this point an offside line is in place. This removes the ‘tackle only’ situation currently in place which can create confusion regarding offside defenders.
3. The breakdown offside line for defenders is the hindmost foot
4. Players joining the breakdown must do so from behind the offside line and join behind the mid-point of the breakdown. The first arriving defender must join head on to the attacker who formed the breakdown.
5. Players joining the breakdown must bind onto any player, using their whole arm. Joining means arriving and binding, not charging in.
6. Players must be on their feet for the duration of the breakdown.
7. A player may be in the halfback position and remain behind the hindmost foot offside line.
8. A player in the halfback position may lift the ball from the breakdown. Halfback is the only player who may use their hands in the breakdown.
9. Once the ball emerges from the breakdown it has ended. Either rolls clear of the breakdown, or is lifted from the breakdown by the halfback.

 
Desired Breakdown Sequence:
Forming…one attacking player on their feet over the ball
Joining…heads up, bind on a player, on their feet, from offside line, plus a player in the halfback position,
Contesting…on their feet, may not use their hands, drive over the ball on the ground
Halfback...may play the ball to clear it from the breakdown
Offside line…hindmost foot , halfback & ball attacking team is hindmost foot
Breakdown ends…when the ball emerges, when halfback lifts the ball from the breakdown
 
Desired Game Outcomes:

1. More players on their feet at breakdowns
2. Players joining (correctly) the breakdown with positive intent
3. Missiles eliminated from the game!
4. Fair contest…both teams
5. Space for ball to be cleared effectively
6. Referees decisions easy to understand
7. Neck rolls, shoulder charges eliminated...safe environment

Application Notes:

1. Tackler – if the tackler having re-entered from behind the mid point then picks up the ball…that is acceptable as long as that player ends up in a position to immediately play the ball, ie run, pass, kick.

1. Tackler - if the tackler is in or remains in a low body position with the ball off the ground in the jackal position, this player is liable to PK.
2. The Tackled Player is expected to release the ball and move away from it in the same manner as the Tackler. Same standard for both teams means a genuinely fair contest.
3. Attacking player who is on their feet and then sets the breakdown may use the tackled player for support, by gripping onto that player. It is the responsibility for all other players to join correctly, ie no hands on ground or on other players on ground, joining players going to ground or onto players already on the ground...must be PK.
4. Breakdown mid point...the first opposition player(s) must join the break down from front on to an opponent who has set the breakdown, ie thru a gate.  Other players joining the breakdown must join behind their side of the midpoint of the breakdown. Prior to the breakdown forming, the midpoint is where the tackler on the ground is in contact with the tackled player. If there is no tackler (i.e. assist tackler only), then the midpoint is the centre of the tackled players body. Once the breakdown forms, defenders need to enter front on to the attacker who set the breakdown. After this, the mid point is the contact point between these two players.
5. The offside line for the breakdown is the line thru the hindmost foot across the field, which requires players to be clearly behind their offside line.
6. If the first arriving defender gets hands onto the ball but has not picked it up off the ground when the first attacking player arrives, then a breakdown is formed and the defender needs to release it.
7. If the first arriving defender picks up the ball prior to the first attacking player arriving, then a breakdown is not formed and the defender is allowed to continue to play the ball. In this case, the ball needs to be clearly lifted from the ground for the defender to be able to keep playing it. As a rough guide, this means that the ball is up at or around mid-shin/knee level at the time the first attacker arrives.