Scrum Safety

The HKRFU recognises that the safety of players is of paramount concern to all involved in rugby, and particularly the safety of front row players.
The following Directive is issued by the HKRFU and must be applied to all League, Cup, friendly and other rugby matches or competitions at all levels, including Schoolboy, Colts, Junior, Senior and Representative matches; both Men and Women's.

These directives should be read in conjunction with the HKRFU Domestic Law Variations.

1. All representative, club and schools coaches, and all club coaching co-ordinators and referees must attend a HKRFU Scrum Safety Course prior to the commencement of the respective league competitions for the 2006/07 season in Hong Kong. Sanction - Forfeiture of all league points until the team coach has completed the course.

2. All front row players must be coached by their respective team coach or club coaching co-ordinators on the iRB approved, safe scrum engagement procedure prior to the commencement of the respective league competitions for the 2006/07 season. Sanction - Forfeiture of league points for each match that a non-trained front row player plays AND the referee shall order uncontested scrums for the entire match.

3. The iRB approved safe scrum engagement procedure must be used during every scrum engagement. The referee shall control all scrum engagements with the following calls:

"CROUCH"
"TOUCH"
"PAUSE"
"ENGAGE"

Engagement must not take place until the referee calls "ENGAGE".

4. Uncontested ("no push") Scrum Rules

Prior to Start of Game
(a) a team has requested for uncontested scrums; or
(b) the match referee is of the opinion by reason of that team's lack of suitable or experienced front row players, that it would be unsafe for a team to play with normally contestable scrums, then the game must proceed with uncontested scrums. The points, if any, resulting from the game are to be awarded to the team that is willing or has the capacity to play with normally contestable scrums and that team is to be treated as having won the match irrespective of which team has scored the highest points.

After Start of Game
Where during a game the match referee is of the opinion that it would be unsafe for a team to continue to play with normally contestable scrums (whether by reason of a player leaving the field through injury, temporary suspension or ordering off and that all front row players as are required to be available for use have been used and are no longer able to play), the referee must rule that the game can only continue with uncontested scrums.

The result of a game which proceeds in the circumstances described in the above paragraph is to be determined in the same way as the result of an ordinary game, that is, the team scoring the highest points is to be treated as having won the match.

5. First Division teams must have at least one qualified & trained front row player as a replacement for every match. Sanction - The team will forfeit the points/match.

6. All other teams captains must make every effort to have a qualified and trained front row player as a replacement for each match. They should note that the replacement front row player need not be on the replacement bench, they could be playing in another position. Sanction - No sanction for non-compliance.

7. If a front row player is sent off or temporarily suspended (sin bin) by the referee, a replacement front row player may be brought on at formation of the next scrum and the captain of the team will nominate another player to leave the field. A player who has been sent off will not be permitted to return to the match under any circumstances.

8. Temporary replacement of a front row player for a blood injury is permissible. If the team cannot provide a qualified and trained replacement front row player the referee will order uncontested scrums for the duration of the blood injury.

9. If at any stage of a game the referee considers that scrums are becoming dangerous, whether or not the front row players are qualified and trained, he shall order uncontested scrums. The referee is the sole judge of safety.

Appeals
Appeals in relation to this Directive must be made within 72 hours after the fixture and must be addressed to the League Fixtures Control Panel, who may call for representations from both teams involved in the fixture and in appropriate cases a report from the referee.