7s Opposing Scrum Half Offsides
- Thread starter dskit
- Start date
RemainingInTheGame
Referees in Australia
7s WR variation does not change the written law for offside:
19.28:
Prior to the start of play in the scrum, the scrum-half of the team not throwing in the ball stands:
a) On that team’s side of the middle line next to the opposing scrum-half, or
b) At least five metres behind the hindmost foot of their team’s last player in the scrum and remains there until the completion of the scrum.
Then
19.30:
Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession:
a) Takes up a position with both feet behind the ball and close to the scrum but not in the space between the flanker and the number eight or
b) Permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or
c) Permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot.
And then the scrum ending doesn't change (except the No 8 reference is removed - ironically from law 19.36b but not from 19.36c) - so ball is out when it comes out past the last feet, or when the scrum half plays it.
19.33: As soon as the scrum ends, offside lines no longer apply.
19.36: The scrum ends:
a) When the ball comes out of the scrum in any direction except the tunnel.
b) When the ball is played by that team’s scrum-half.
c) When the number eight picks up the ball from the feet of a second-row player.
d) When the referee blows the whistle for an infringement.
e) When the ball in a scrum is on or over the goal line.
However, depending on where you are, there may be local changes - in Aus (NSW) my understanding is that local law variations carry through into 7s (i.e. Tackle Height at Sternum and Scrum Half at Tunnel - so here the half needs to stay at the tunnel instead of behind the ball).
EDIT: referenced team in possession, so updated to correct
19.28:
Prior to the start of play in the scrum, the scrum-half of the team not throwing in the ball stands:
a) On that team’s side of the middle line next to the opposing scrum-half, or
b) At least five metres behind the hindmost foot of their team’s last player in the scrum and remains there until the completion of the scrum.
Then
19.30:
Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession:
a) Takes up a position with both feet behind the ball and close to the scrum but not in the space between the flanker and the number eight or
b) Permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or
c) Permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot.
And then the scrum ending doesn't change (except the No 8 reference is removed - ironically from law 19.36b but not from 19.36c) - so ball is out when it comes out past the last feet, or when the scrum half plays it.
19.33: As soon as the scrum ends, offside lines no longer apply.
19.36: The scrum ends:
a) When the ball comes out of the scrum in any direction except the tunnel.
b) When the ball is played by that team’s scrum-half.
c) When the number eight picks up the ball from the feet of a second-row player.
d) When the referee blows the whistle for an infringement.
e) When the ball in a scrum is on or over the goal line.
However, depending on where you are, there may be local changes - in Aus (NSW) my understanding is that local law variations carry through into 7s (i.e. Tackle Height at Sternum and Scrum Half at Tunnel - so here the half needs to stay at the tunnel instead of behind the ball).
EDIT: referenced team in possession, so updated to correct
Last edited:
The OP seems to be asking about the obligations of the 9 of the team not in posession.
RemainingInTheGame
Referees in Australia
Oops, will edit original response, should be 19.28 and 19.30 not 19.29!
In England the RFU game regulations AT UNDER 18;-
5. The Scrum:
- a) There is no ‘turnover’ law. If scrums are reset for wheeling beyond 45 degrees the throw-in is to the side in possession at the time it is wheeled beyond 45 degrees.
- b) The scrum-half not throwing the ball into the scrum must not move beyond the middle line of the scrum until the ball has emerged from the scrum or an opponent has lifted the ball from the ground. In the event of a strike against the head, the scrum-half who has thrown the ball into the scrum is similarly restricted in not following the ball. Sanction: Penalty Kick.
chbg
Referees in England
Phew, that gave me a heart attack! This is ONLY for U15s. Appendix 9 covers U15-U18; Sect 5 appears under a very indistinct heading:
Additional Law Variations applicable to U15 boys only
The variations below shall also apply at U15:
That is as it has been for (?) seasons. It is just VERY badly formatted in the new arrangement.
Is that why a couple of teams have asked me? They seemed relieved when I told them that the ball set the offside lines at U18 (& U16).