Restarting the second half with a penalty.

End of the first half team A was in possession on team B's 5m, ball carrier was held up and the maul was dragged into touch.

A scuffle ensued, player from Team A was sin binned.

Ref ended the game for half time - no penalty was awarded, Team B was not given the ball to kick for a lineout, nor did they tap the ball and then kick it dead for HT.

The ref then restarted the second half with a penalty on the half way line to Team B.

This is a new one on me and I can't find anything that would support this approach.

Obviously I'm aware that you can restart after a try with a penalty but surely the actions of team A's player that warranted a yellow card would also have resulted in a penalty to Team B which would have delayed the HT whistle.

For the avoidance of any doubt - the ref had NOT blown his whistle for HT before deciding to yellow card the attacking player.

You are correct. The referee should have awarded the penalty and ensured its conclusion before blowing for half time.

Maybe the ref decided the half was over when the maul went into touch (as time was up), but didn't get chance to blow for half time due to the scuffle.

If the half is over the penalty is awarded where play would restart, which would be the second half kick off.

Hi Phil, where would I find any information around penalties awarded after the half is over?

All I can see of any relevance would be 7b which would stop half time.

If we accept that the half had finished before the foul play occurred.

Interesting. Had a discussion Saturday with a couple of colleagues at a club match.
The home team, 2XV went into the changing rooms at Half time without discussing this with the ref or visiting team.
One of the guys recalled an old school ref many years ago dragging a team back out and restarting the game with a penalty against them.
As I understand it and especially in wintertime I would be happy for teams at any level to go inside for a warm but would the penalty restart be justified in law?

I think it depends on if the foul play occurred before the half is over or not.
According to 5.7, the half ends when the ball becomes dead after time has expired (with exceptions). It’s worth noting then that the half doesn’t end when referee blows the whistle, that’s just a communication of an already existing fact.
If the foul play occurred before the ball became dead, then the penalty restart is now and the half continued. If it was after the ball became dead, then the penalty restart would open the second half.

Ciaran Trainor said:

Interesting. Had a discussion Saturday with a couple of colleagues at a club match.
The home team, 2XV went into the changing rooms at Half time without discussing this with the ref or visiting team.
One of the guys recalled an old school ref many years ago dragging a team back out and restarting the game with a penalty against them.
As I understand it and especially in wintertime I would be happy for teams at any level to go inside for a warm but would the penalty restart be justified in law?

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Depends on Competition Regulations. Normal RFU leagues follow WR Laws - max 15 mins for HT (not that we advertise it!) Law 5.2. No restriction about leaving the field of play. Reg 15, Para 51: "51. Subject to the Regulations below or as otherwise varied by these Regulations, all matches must be played in accordance with the World Rugby Laws of the Game save that at (Women’s Level 6 and below), the World Rugby Under 19 Law Variations will apply."

Variations that we can come across (normally under 'Competition Management' paragraphs): Schools Cup U15/U18: U15 5 mins HT, "both teams staying on Field of Play". U18 National Cup: 10 mins HT, no other restrictions. BUCS allow 10 mins for HT.

I don't get too fussed about HT length. Once the teams start to look like they're ready to go, whistle. But my games aren't in driving snow

Dickie E said:

I don't get too fussed about HT length. Once the teams start to look like they're ready to go, whistle. But my games aren't in driving snow

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I probably need longer at HT than the teams. We have unlimited interchanges because heat, and I need a sit down, a drink and a chancce to cool down in the aircon.