Law clarification – scrum halves handling the ball in a ruck

World Rugby have issued a formal law clarification after New Zealand Rugby queried whether the scrum half/half back is allowed to move in front of the offside line and then use their hands to reposition the ball while it is still in a ruck. The request pointed out the laws which say it shouldn’t be permitted, but it was now common place in the elite game.

The World Rugby response – which comes from a group of active practitioners known as Designated Members, a sub-group of their Council – sets out the following:

The laws referenced should be read alongside the Playing Charter which is a part of the Laws of the Game. Together, they seek to establish “the essential balance between continuity of play and continuity of possession.” The Charter stresses the equal importance in Rugby Union of both – with nine references to ‘contest’ and eight references to ‘continuity’.         

In the context the request, the rucks defined suggest a contest for possession is over, the ball secured and then the half back (or player fulfilling that role) is then playing the ball away to ensure continuity.  The laws highlighted focus on the contest for possession.  Match officials must apply the laws in the context of the Charter as well.  

While the actions of the scrum half/half back do appear to contravene the pure law wordings, there is no material offence caused and so match officials are ensuring match continuity. 

We would remind match officials that this should only be applied when the contest is clearly over; and of the previous Guideline in March 2024 around calling “Use it” as soon as the ball has been “clearly won by a team at the ruck and is available to be played.” This reduces the time for extra players to add themselves to the ruck.  

We request World Rugby closely monitor this area of the game so objective data can be brought to the next Shape of the Game discussions for wider consideration, and for possible future law change discussions.

So for most of us referees:

• If the 9s actions prevent a contest for the ball, that should be penalised
• If the contest for the ball is over, the 9 can go digging for the ball, or roll it back with their hands in order to keep the ball flowing – this is probably how most referees have always dealt with this area
• Once a 9 can play the ball with either hand or foot, then the “Use it” call should happen – it literally has been “clearly won and is available to be played” – this should reduce the caterpillar rucks many folk actively dislike!