NZRU Level 2 Law Exam

Date:          Monday 12^th July

Time:          7pm

Venue:        Petone Working Men’s Club

All members who wish to sit the Level 2 Exam MUST let me know.  Please email me at david.walsh@wrfu.co.nz

-          If you require or desire a “Reader” or you are unavailable on 12^th July, you need to get in touch with me

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

New referees, recently arrived members and existing members,

It is compulsory for everyone who is actively involved in on-field refereeing, to view the NZRU and ACC safety presentation, Rugby Smart.  This safety accreditation is conducted annually and is necessary to ensure that you are covered by NZRU insurance and ACC legislation, particularly in the event of serious injury to a player in any game you are refereeing.

Rugby Smart is a DVD based presentation.  I will conduct a Rugby Smart presentation tomorrow before the regular Monday night Training-Education-Development meeting gets underway at 7pm.

Date:           Monday 3^rd May

Venue:        Petone Working Men’s Club

Time:          6:15pm

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

All,

There are 3 levels of teamsheet protocols for us to follow this season:

Premier, Senior-1 and Senior-2 Grades

These three grades use the carbon-copy triplicate teamsheet system that has been operating since 2008.  Referees are required to sight the teamsheet prior to the match commencing to ensure that all the requirements of number of players, front row replacements, etc, are adhered to.  At the end of the match, the referee is to:

-          check that the detail on the teamsheet is accurate (including the score)

-          assign points in the Griffiths Memorial Competition (Senior-1 and Senior-2 grades only)

-          sign the teamsheet

-          RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE MIDDLE (pink) COPY and return that copy to the WRFU

Senior-3 to Under-19 (ie: all other WRFU grades)

These grades will continue to use the traditional DLE (envelope size) fold over cards.  Referees are required to sight the teamsheet prior to the match commencing to ensure that all the requirements of number of players, front row replacements, etc, are adhered to.  At the end of the match, the referee is to:

-          check that the detail on the teamsheet is accurate (including the score)

-          assign points in the Griffiths Memorial Competition

-          sign the teamsheet

-          leave the teamsheet with the team manager

o        only on the occasion that you sin-bin or order-off a player will it be necessary to retain possession of the teamsheet for the purpose of identifying the players concerned.  The teamsheets MUST be returned with your completed sin-bin or ordering-off report inside the 48 hour requirement.

Secondary School grades.

For ALL Secondary School grades, the referee is still required to collect the teamsheets, complete all the detail and return it to College Sport Wellington.  This can be achieved by posting the teamsheets, delivering them in person or bringing them to the weekly Monday night WRRA meeting.

PLEASE DO NOT RETAIN POSSESSION OF TEAMSHEETS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.  RETURN THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

Domestic Safety Law Variation à DSLV

IRB Law 20 – Scrum

-          applies to Premier, Senior-1 and Senior-2 grades

DSLV Law 20 – Scrum

-          applies to all rugby below Senior-2 (this includes Women’s Premier Grade)

Scrum Law differences
NZRU Domestic Safety Law Variations	IRB Law
If a scrum unintentionally wheels more than 45°, it shall be reset.  There is NEVER a turnover of possession.	If a scrum wheels more than 90°, the scrum will be reset.  The team NOT in possession, when it wheeled through 90°, will throw the ball into the new scrum.
If team numbers are reduced (ordering off or sin bin), scrum numbers MUST match.	No such restriction.
The Number-8 must bind BETWEEN the locks.	No such restriction.
A scrum cannot move more than 1.5m from the original mark.	No such restriction.
The ball cannot be retained IN the scrum (ie: the Number-8 cannot hold the ball at his/her feet).	No such restriction.
The halfback may NOT advance beyond the middle of the scrum.	The halfback can follow the ball through the scrum.

Ordering Off (Red Card) reports

-          these MUST be completed in all circumstances

-          if you order a player off, you must advise one of the following people ON THE DAY OF THE ORDERING OFF:

o        Benji Crossley   021 390 463

o        Mike Dilnott       027 440 5625

o        Ian Dallas          027 487 6442

o        David Walsh     021 898 098

-          Completed reports must be with Benji Crossley at the start of Monday business (for a Saturday ordering off) or the following day (for a Sunday or mid-week ordering off).  Completing them and/or handing them in at a Monday night meeting is not satisfactory!  The administrative task of notifying players and clubs of appeal rights and setting up disciplinary hearings needs to be done earlier than “Monday night completion” would allow.

Temporary Suspension / Sin Bin (Yellow Card) reports

-          these must be completed in all circumstances

-          they must be sent to Benji inside the “48 hours post game window” or, handed in at the Monday night meeting.

The Ordering Off and Sin Bin report forms have been updated to replace Nathan Pilalis’ details with Benji Crossley’s details.  They will be available on the WRRA website.

Availability / non-availability

-          the email address notavail@wrra.org.nz is redirected to various people.  This facility is being used regularly and is functioning well.  Please send notification of your non-availability to this email address as early as possible.  Noon Monday is the cutoff for notification for the following Saturday.  Earlier than this time is preferable.

-          Regardless of having sent through notification of non-availability, please always check the draw and appointments to ensure you have not been appointed on a day that you are unavailable.  If you discover any issues with the appointments, please advise Benji immediately!

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

For those that did not attend last week’s meeting, there will be a second opportunity to view the 2010 Rugby Smart safety presentation tomorrow at the Petone Working Men’s Club.  When you have attended, your NZRU registration can then be completed for this year.

START TIME: 6:10pm.

It is compulsory for all active referees to attend Rugby Smart each year and to complete and sign a registration form.

Following the Rugby Smart session will be the Training-Education-Development topic for the night:

7pm – “Tackle – contest in general play” – Mike Fraser/Matt Goodger

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

RUGBY SMART 2010

The 2010 WRRA Monday night Training-Education-Development (TED) programme starts on Monday 1^st March.  First up is the compulsory Rugby Smart presentation from the NZRU.  All referees who intend to actively referee rugby this season must attend a Rugby Smart presentation.

Monday at the Petone Working Men’s Club – 7pm.

Referees who attend Rugby Smart will then be able to complete their 2010 registration form and most of the administration tasks for the new season will then be complete.  Of course, paying your subscription is another matter to attend to, if you haven’t already.

TRAINING – MONDAY 1^st MARCH – ANDERSON PARK – 5:30pm

Training starts at 5:30pm to allow time for participants to get from Anderson Park to the Petone Working Men’s Club for Rugby Smart.

2009 WRRA Annual Report

The Annual Report has been posted to all members.  In the past, there has also been a Registration Form delivered.  For those that were not an active referee in 2009, you should receive your NZRU/WRRA combined Registration Form.  Please check the detail, make note of any alterations, and return the form to either myself or Benji Crossley at the WRFU.  Bring your completed and signed form along to the AGM on Monday 22^nd Feb, or one of our early meetings.

Registration Forms for active referees have not been distributed.  Registration will be completed when you attend a Rugby Smart presentation.

For those that want to view or download the 2009 Annual Report, follow this link:  http://www.wrra.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009-Annual-Report-Web.pdf

Greytown Sevens – this coming Saturday (20^th February).

The Wairarapa-Bush RRA has asked if we can assist them by providing 3 or 4 referees for this tournament.

-         Teams to report 8.00am 

-         Kick- off 9.00am

-         Refs briefing 8.30am – Lunch & drinks provided

If you are interested in travelling over to Greytown for a few games of 7-aside rugby, please let me know and I can pass on that information to Peter Debney.

Pre-season fixtures.

Clubs and schools have advised Benji Crossley of numerous pre-season games starting on Saturday 27^th February.  Please get in touch with Benji if you are keen to get your season underway and he can establish a list of available referees.

If you are asked to referee a game by a school or club, please clear it with Benji first so that we avoid double-ups and also so that you can be officially appointed, which will provide you with the necessary protection through the NZRU indemnity insurance scheme.

There is also a sevens tournament and a Wellington Development XV v Crusaders Development XV fixture at Porirua Park on Saturday 27th.

DON’T FORGET THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON MONDAY 22^nd AT 7:30pm AT THE PETONE WORKING MEN’S CLUB.

Benji Crossley

benji.crossley@wrfu.co.nz

Mobile: 021 390 463

Work: 04 389 0020 extn 722

David Walsh

Referee Education Officer – Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington

021 898 098

04 380 2215 (DDI)

04 389 0889 (fax)

PO Box 7201 Wellington

Super 14 coaches and referees working together to create a better game 

SANZAR referees and assistant referees will be focusing on freeing up the ball and creating clarity around rulings at the tackle area and at scrum-time in this year’s Super 14 competition.

In addition, players advancing from off-side positions during kicking phases will also be penalised to maintain the counter-attacking options for the receiving team.  

Tournament officials in all three countries have been given a clear mandate to deal with these key areas in an effort to create clarity for players, officials and fans, and to enable the kind of rugby that Super Rugby fans have come to expect.

“There is total agreement between all three SANZAR countries that Super 14 rugby needs to return to its roots and deliver excitement and attack on the field and we believe these initiatives can help deliver a better game for everyone,” said SANZAR Referees Manager Lyndon Bray. 

Mr Bray said the 2009 season review process brought out four major priorities, which coaches, players and referees have bought into, in order to help create some fundamental change to the game on the field.

“In the past two months, I have attended workshops in all three SANZAR countries with coaches and officials and everyone has responded positively to this approach.” 

Referee performances will also be measured against these priorities throughout the Super 14 season which will guide the selectors in the appointment of officials as the Tournament progresses.

My Bray outlined the four key areas as: 

Tackled Ball:

“The tackler, once hitting the ground in the tackle, must release the ball and the ball carrier. This gives the ball carrier a chance to ‘play the ball’, and will tidy up the tackle-ball area which has previously been weighted towards the tackler.  As well, any player involved in helping make a tackle, who is in contact with the ball carrier when he is taken to ground, must then release the ball, before then attempting to contest possession, even if he is on his feet.  This ensures that in Super 14, we are truly refereeing the Law at the tackle, and it provides the ball carrier with his rights, having been tackled.  After this tackle, any player then on his feet, in a position of strength (his side of the tackle) may then contest possession.”

Scrum engagement:

“The scrum engagement must follow a true sequence, starting with all props required to touch, on the touch call. Props must also have their head and shoulders above their hips, and then hit straight on engagement. This enhances the chance of the scrum being contestable, and to stay up resulting in less resets.” 

Players in front of the kicker:

“Players will be forced to comply with standing still or retiring in relation to being in front of the kicker. This will see referees calling for a player to stop advancing – if he continues to advance, he will be penalised and players must retire from within 10m of the receiver of a kick – otherwise an immediate penalty will be given where these players look to contest the kick. The objective is that this will improve the time and space for players to counter attack, when receiving kicks in general play, and reducing some of the aerial ping pong people we have been seeing in rugby.”

Formation of the maul:

“At the time that a maul is formed, players supporting the ball carrier will not be allowed to obstruct the opposition. This is intended to at least make the maul defendable at the set up stage.” 

Mr Bray said these initiatives are a return to the laws of the game and do not represent any change in law, but are simply limiting room for interpretation and should create clarity and certainty for coaches, players, officials and fans.

Mr Bray and national referee managers in South Africa (Andre Watson) and Australia (Anthony Eddy) are available to brief media on these focus areas and any other law or officiating questions in the lead-up to the start of the 2010 Super 14 competition.