Rugby: penalty plays

During a recent U17's league game, the opposing side took two consecutive quick tap penalties. During a break in play shortly after, as the coach attending an injured player, I questioned the referee on the legality of this passage of play, as my understanding was that two consecutive quick taps, used to catch the opposition in an offside position and therefore gain terratorial advantage, was not allowed under current law. The referee responded that this law is at his discretion and when we discussed after the game, he stated there is no such aw and that it is a "gentlemens agreement". I have since reviewed the laws on penalties and there is no specific law preventing a side taking two quick tap penalties. Has anyone else come across this interpretation and how can this be managed consistantly if when watching elite games, such a move is not allowed yet can be allowed at junior level ?

Can you lift the legs when clearing out the ruck and if so what happens if you take the player off his feet to the ground?

Why don’t teams set up a driving maul directly from a penalty, rather than risk losing a scrum or line out?

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Simon My son's PE teacher has told him that Bridging is lieegal for the U13 to U19 group. His Club coach has been encouraging its use in games for two seasons. I can see some of the dangers but also the advantages Who is right is it banned or can it be used? Paul submitted by email

An in-goal player catches the ball from an opponent's kick and touches it down. That player is then late tackled. What actions are available to the referee?

Is sealing the ball at the tackle and ruck legal again?

From a tap restart may the player who is to first receive the ball start runnning before the player taps the ball? The player receiving the ball is at all times behind the player tapping the ball.

U11 Rugby I am coaching the U11's this season. There are some significant rule changes from U10. Please can I get some advice on what lessons were learned from coaches who have been through a similar experience.

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My under 18 team tried to take a quick lineout with one attacker in the lineout and 2 defenders in the lineout. When he threw the ball to another attacker who was about 10metres behind the lineout he was told by the referee that the lineout had formed and could not take a quick penalty. What is the clarification of this as I always thought you had to have at least 2 players from each team in the lineout to say that the lineout had formed?

I watched a semifinal allblacks vs wallabies, Pocock was penalised twice for leaving his feet at the ruck. I can't see it on tv. What is actually the situation can be happend? Is he accidentally or his leg get stuck in ruck?

a defender that is part of the ruck, can he take a swipe at the ball or tackle the scrumhalf once he has the ball?

Off side in general play. Can anyone explain this better as it seems to be a bit ambiguous. When are you off side in general play? Rugby Unoin.

I want to start taking stats and analysis for my team. Does anyone use or know where I can find a Stats templte sheet for quick notes during  game. From 1st phase play to detailed stats for phases. For example. Who took ball inruck? Won or lost? number of players commited to ruck.what happened aft? How quick the ball came out...ext ext. Hope someone can help or advise. Shaun

I'm coaching and reffing U11 rugby and one of my players is the definitive 'big lad'. His 'strength' is his size and his power, but last weekend he didn't seem to get reffed fairly. The opposition couldn't tackle him down, one on one and when another two joined in to make a mini maul, that didn't slow him down much either. The ref then let other people join in the (one sided) struggle to tackle him down, which seemed very unfair as A) it's outside the laws of U11 rugby,, B) it makes it nigh on impossible for him to offload, C) when he is brought to ground, he has 4-5 players all over him and he got pinged for 'holding on'. He is a recent arrival to rugby and it was our first game for a couple of months, so the situation hadn't reared his head before. We are keen that he learns all of the core skills of rugby and doesn't get used as a battering ram, but after seeing a pack of hyenas trying to pull down the big fella, something just didn't seem right to me.I'd be grateful for any thoughts and opinions.

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