Here is the first in an occasional series of questions on The Laws.





I may bring out about 5 questions a week. Then again, I'll almost definitely lose interest in around 3 weeks, but you never know, here goes.


The answers are provided by former WRU Director of Referees, Clive Norling.


Q 1. During the France v Scotland Six Nations, France attempted a drop goal which rebounded off the crossbar, a French player in front of the kicker caught the ball and scored a try. Was this player offside?


A 1. Yes, the French player in front of the player who attempted a drop goal was offside. The fact that the ball hit the post did not bring the offside French player back into the game. He should have been penalised for offside.




Q 2. Are you allowed to mark the ball in your own 22 if it is from a penalty kick, for instance a kick for goal or to touch?


A 2. Yes


Q 3. Why don't players get penalised at a driving maul/lineout when it is obviously obstruction and accidental offside when a player with athe ball has about six forwards between himself and the opposition?


A 3. The practice that you see at a lineout is for the jumper to catch the ball, then players and opponents bind on to him to form a maul, one player from both teams binding onto a ball carrier forms a maul. Usually, the ball is then moved from the jumper back to the last player of his team bound into the maul. The maul is then driven forward.


As long as all the players are still bound into the maul, the players in front of the ball carrier are not offside and are not obstructing their opponents. Just like the scrum, with the ball at the number 8's feet, the team-mates in front of the number 8 are not offside nor obstructing their opponents. Accidental offside and obstruction applies more to open play than to 'gatherings' such as scrums or mauls.


Q 4. Please could you explain how the ref decides how much time he can allow when playing advantage before he brings the players back for the original offence?


A 4. There is no specified time for playing advantage. It is down to the referee on the day to decide the length of an advantage. He does this by verbal communication to the players, 'playing advantage' then 'advantage over' and by signalling with his arm held horizontal when advantage is being played. Advantage for a technical infringement, for instance a knock-on tends to be shorter than advantage for a penalty infringement.





Q 5. Does a referee have to go on any special training courses before he is allowed to take charge of international games?


A 5. No. The referee will have been trained and developed by his particular Union, for Welsh referees, it's the WRU. The referee in Wales starts with the Level One Course at Schools, Youth or District level . Then if he shows potential he is invited to attend the Level Two course. If he completes that then he is invited to join the WRU List of Referees. Once on the list it is down to his ability and potential as to how quickly he rises up the refereeing ladder.


Once he becomes a WRU Panel referee, he is capable of refereeing all domestic games in Wales in addition to refereeing European matches. He can also be nominated for representative games and 'A' and Under 21 internationals. His performances at those games will be assessed and his marks reported to the IRB. They have the final say on who is appointed to referee Internationals.