The Law Exam

May a player leave the playing area to change badly torn shorts?

A defender in-goal pushes the ball over the dead ball line. What should the referee rule?

At a scrum, the ball goes straight through the tunnel and comes out at the far end of the tunnel. What should the referee rule?

May a player push an opponent holding the ball?

At a kick in general play, a team-mate ahead of the kicker remains stationary 5m from an opponent waiting to catch the ball. The offside player waits until the kicker runs past before advancing. What should the referee rule?

Players of the same team are repeatedly penalised for leaving their feet at the tackle. The referee issues a warning. At the next play, a maul forms and a player from this team collapses the maul. Is the referee correct to caution and temporarily suspend this player for repeated infringements?

An attacker kicks the ball ahead and it becomes stationary in the field-of-play. A defender with both feet in-goal picks up the ball and makes it dead. How should play restart?

At a scrum, the ball is moving towards the back when the scrum collapses. The ball is available to be cleared. What should the referee rule?

The attackers kick the ball into in-goal and the ball is grounded by an attacker and a defender at the same time. What should the referee rule?

A Blue player commits foul play 5m from the Red goal-line. The AR (assistant referee) signals foul play. Play stops for a scrum infringement 90m downfield, 5m from the Blue goal-line. The referee then speaks with the AR. They agree that an advantage has been gained and the Blue player should be cautioned and temporarily suspended. How does play restart?

A try is awarded. The try scorer throws the ball back to the kicker who quickly drop-kicks the conversion in line with where the try was awarded. Team-mates are still ahead of the kicker. Should the goal be awarded?

A defender is retiring when the ball emerges from a maul. The attacking No 9 passes to No 10 who runs 2m and passes to No 12, who runs 2m and then kicks the ball. When is the defender put on-side?

At a stoppage in play may the referee allow time for a player to re-tie a boot-lace?

At a lineout, the defenders throw in with seven players lined up. The attackers only have five players lined up. What should the referee rule?

The ball is thrown directly across the field, hits the ground and bounces forward. Should the referee rule a forward pass?

After a tackle, may a player handle the ball in a ruck if that player had hands on the ball before the ruck formed?

The ball bounces into touch on halfway. A Red player foot trips a retiring opponent 5m from touch, 12m on the Red player's side of halfway. Where does the referee make the mark for the penalty?

A Blue player and a Red player are running next to each other when the Blue player falls to the ground and remains on the ground, complaining of being tripped. The referee had a clear view of the incident and saw no contact between the two players. What should the referee rule?

A penalty is awarded to the defenders 1m from the goal-line. Where is the mark for the kick?

A defender carries the ball back into the 22 and is tackled. The defender passes the ball to a team-mate who kicks the ball directly into touch on the halfway. Where is the mark for the lineout?