Rugby: referee

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.

As well as coaching U10 rugby, I also get to referee U10 games, under the New Rules Of Play. I feel that my refereeing of the ruck isn't as good as it could/should be. Has anyone got an easy to follow system to help them referee U10 rucks ?

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 ?

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?

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?

Rucking - does a ruck end when defending players back off from contact? The "successful/unsuccessful end to a ruck" seems to infer that there are still players in contact. If they are not, does the offside line change?

what are the rules of tag rugby?

Following the TV explanation of a referee's decision on an unsuccessful maul from a kick-off, I looked up the following rule (the latest version on the IRB site).----------------------------------------------------------------------------17.6 UNSUCCESSFUL END TO A MAUL (h) Scrum after a maul when catcher is held. If a player catches the ball direct from an opponent’s kick, except from a kick-off or a drop-out, and the player is immediately held by an opponent, a maul may form. Then if the maul remains stationary, stops moving forward for longer than 5 seconds, or if the ball becomes unplayable, and a scrum is ordered, the team of the ball catcher throws in the ball.---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It states "except from a kick-off or a drop-out", but then nowhere can I find what happens IN the case of a kick-off or a drop-out. Does anyone know the answer?  The referee's decision and the explanation given on Sky was as though the exception above were not there.

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?

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

how does the hooker protect themselves from being bored by the opposition hooker and prop?

My understanding is the rules state the when the referee calls a tackle the tackled player needs to pass the ball within 3 seconds from the call, regardless if he is on the ground or being held. My question is this, if the player goes to ground and does not make a pop pass but places the ball, do he his team mates have 3 seconds to pick up and pass the ball or an indefinite period while attacking team stays onside?

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?

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Offside confusion - I have been coaching mini rugby in Scotland for just over a year and had just got used to the idea that the ball is the off side line. Now under the new SRU law variations it is the same as the adult game. Can someone assist with the follwing scenario - A defender comes forward to tackle the ball carrier. The ball carrier side steps the defender and carries on going forward. The defender turns to give chase only to find that the ball carrier has passed the ball backwards across his path in attempt to reach his team-mates. If the defender catches the ball is he off-side? Would the answer to this question change if the defender was on the right side of the ball at the time the interception was made even though he was beyond the ball carrier at the time which the pass was made?

When the ball is kicked directly over the touch line but does not hit the ground and bends back in field before landing in play, is this in or out?

In a last ditch attempt to save a try I ankle tapped the opposition ball carrier. I was subsequently penalized by the ref for an illegal tackle. I have seen ankle taps in many international games and have never seen a penalty from it. Is the ankle tap a legal form of tackle? Have the laws changed in regards to ankle taps?

I need to know the difference between a free and a penalty kick. Because I am learning to be a ref

What would be the likely outcome of a scrum fed from the thrower's tighthead side? Who would more likely win possession and what quality of possession could be expected? What if the law was that most scrums were required to be fed from the thrower's tighthead with the non offender determining who was to feed? The remainder, such as penalty scrums, would stay as is. Could this encourage a more constructive approach to scrummaging?

is a player deemed of their feet at a ruck when both hands and feet are in contact with floor (basically in a press up position)