6 replies to this topic

[mariner4life]

Calling rugby law knowers, i have an issue i would like cleared up.

Couple of weeks ago i was playing and got penalised for a "jersey sling" there were about 3 other penalties for the same thing in the game.

My situation was, the number 8 broke from the scrum and ran sideways, i chased from openside, caught him, but with bad body position, he stuck out the palm, i grabbed his jersey by the chest and back, and swung him down and around onto the ground. Bear in mind this guy is at least 120kg, and i am 90 on a heavy day. Yes, he ended up on his head, got angry and wanted to punch on. But that wasn't what the penalty was for, the ref clearly said "jersey sling, you cant just throw him to the ground like that".

Now, can anyone tell me whether or not he was right? I was under the impression the jersey sling was grabbing the collar, has their been a change in interpretation? This has always been my bail out option when i get in a bad body position because i have long arms, is it now illegal?

[BartMan]

dangerous tackle I s'pose? If he had not landed on his head, it probably would not have been penalised. But he did, you caused it, so penalty.

[mariner4life]

Nah Bart, i think i put too much emphasis on the head part, more like the side of the head/point of shoulder.

That tackle, and a couple of others in the game were penalised for "jersey slinging" ie throwing the guy on the deck, not using your shoulders to drive him down. In fact i am pretty sure he said to me after one of them "you have to use your shoulder at some point to be a legal tackle".

I think this ref is full of shit, but just wondered if others out there knew something i don't.

[Hooroo]

mariner4life said:

Nah Bart, i think i put too much emphasis on the head part, more like the side of the head/point of shoulder.

That tackle, and a couple of others in the game were penalised for "jersey slinging" ie throwing the guy on the deck, not using your shoulders to drive him down. In fact i am pretty sure he said to me after one of them "you have to use your shoulder at some point to be a legal tackle".

I think this ref is full of shit, but just wondered if others out there knew something i don't.

I am making this up as I go, but i think it has something to do with being an uncontrolled tackle, if that makes sense?? I remember when I was doing my ref training, them mentioning something about that.

[BartMan]

Quote

you have to use your shoulder at some point to be a legal tackle".

So an ankle tap would be illegal then!!!!

Pull out your rule book Hooroo!!

[Hooroo]

Yeah, I'm at work but will have a gander online when I get a sec

[Crucial]

Just comes under refs interpretation of 'tackling dangerously' is his association (or even just his own mind on the day) has deemed that jersey slinging is dangerous he can whistle it.
It's one of those adaption to the ref things. Refs can be as unreasonable as they want and still be covered under the Laws as they are sole judge of fact.
That is why at some levels any tackle above the nipples are called (including the arm over the shoulder from behind) yet in others you can tackle high as long as you don't coathanger or take heads off.
It's just one of those wonderful quirks of rugby where the way you can play is dictated by the ref on the day.