2015 Technical Priorities

Technical Priorities Player Safety The wearing of a mouth guard in all NZ Domestic Rugby is compulsory Closely observe players who sustain a head knock – Play It Safe Reason: Player safety is paramount

Technical Priorities The Game Fundamentals For all restarts at half way and 22m drop-outs advancing players must be behind the kicker Half backs are required to put the ball in straight, with part of the ball landing on the middle line Line out throws to be down the middle and without delay Penalty/Free Kicks are to be taken on or behind the mark (the mark is not the place to commence the run to kick) Foul Play to be dealt with decisively and effectively Reason: To keep the game tidy and well managed.

Technical Priorities Positive Set Pieces “Scrums & lineouts formed within 30 seconds is a priority” Scrum 3 calls requires 3 actions: “Crouch” / “Bind” /” Set” sequence. Good set up essential scrums to be stable before ball is fed in on referees indication (non verbal) long bind by props scrum must push forward prior to any wheel

Technical Priorities 2015 Line Outs ball to be thrown along the middle line players not to interfere with jumpers in the air lineout maul is formed when defenders bind onto the jumper who has caught the ball and is bound to a team mate or is caught in the maul Reason: To have game restarts occur quickly and provide quality ball

Technical Priorities The Breakdown (Tackle/Ruck/Maul) Players are required to stay on their feet and enter tackles through the gate Cleaning out players beyond the ball is not acceptable Tacklers must exit east/west and not interfere with ball release Half backs are not to be grasped/interfered with at rucks & mauls The ball is deemed out of the ruck when the ball clears the hindmost foot (not when the ball is touched) Reason: To give teams the opportunity to contest the breakdown.

Technical Priorities Space for the Game to Operate Maintain the defensive offside lines at Set Piece – in particular 5m for backs at scrum; 10m for backs at line out Backlines in ruck/mauls must be onside until the ball is clearly released Players must STOP when ahead of the kicker at kicks in general play All players in the lineout must remain there until the lineout has ended. Reason: To give the ball receiving team as much SPACE as possible in accordance with law.

Technical Priorities Management & Communication Communication of decisions is expected to be clear and relate to law Team Captains are expected to be the only communicators with referees during games Cynical infringements will be dealt with quickly and decisively, they need not be part of repeated infringements Reason: The aim is to encourage open communication and for decisions to be clear and easy to understand.

MouthGuard Management Pre –Season Communication to teams via Coach and Managers Meeting – “No Mouthguard; No Play” This is an NZRU Directive for games from ITM Cup down so we are obliged to comply. ARFU and ARRA Communications to Clubs Pre-Season trainings attended Pre –Match Discussion with Managers, Coaches and Captains – their responsibility; not ours Manager to advise referee of players who might be exempted for medical reason (ARFU requires a medical/dental certificate to that effect) and mark on team sheet “If we see it, we will act but we will not be looking for it” During Game Player observed not wearing mouthguard to leave the field to get one. Time allowed for this is 10min actual time during which no substitution is allowed. If player has one but not wearing it he is given a warning. 1 st repeat infringement incurs a PK at place of next restart with escalation as per repeat infringement standards. If mouthguard is quickly supplied from sideline (“thrown on”) no need for temporary suspension of player but warning still stands.