Ask Rugby Ref

@chat_sir_alot No because there had been a ruck so the 9 is still “near” just like the inability to dive on the ball. Can bind to the 9 if they are in the ruck but not tackle.

@asktherugbyref not playing the 9 ! If I have cleared the ruck to the side , got up went back through the gate can I tackle the 9 as the ruck is no longer in effect and is now open play ?

@chat_sir_alot Provided no ruck has formed

@asktherugbyref not playing the 9 ! if myself and the 9 arrive at the ball tackled player on floor can I contest for the ball ? -If no ruck has formed and the nine is first to the ball and has his hands on the ball can I tackle him - ? Still open play ?

Interesting trial, what are your thoughts?

Great servant of the game

The woman in the middle. When the whistle goes for Ireland v Italy, it won't just start another chapter of @SixNationsRugby - it will mark a moment. Davidson will become the first woman to take charge of a Men's Six Nations match. The kind of records Hollie has continually broken throughout her officiating career. History, earned. 🤝 #GuinnessM6N | #IREvITA

In the heart of the action 🏉 World Rugby confirms @emirates Match Official appointments for Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four Series 2026. You can see the full list of appointments on the World Rugby website

Legend

@IainStirling1 Keith is spot on. Into touch is always whoever last touched at ball

@asktherugbyref - if an offensive team in a maul is stripped off the ball by the defense, but then the maul goes into touch (maul still in place) - who's line out is it? Is it whoever has possession of the ball going into touch? Or the defending team, despite winning the ball?

@Gungehammer @AllBlacks @NZRugby Exactly, I appreciate it is not way over the top, but he knows the TMO cannot check things like that and makes it clear in his view it is appropriate to pressure officials. Now the U13 player will be screaming at a ref next week saying they are trying to put them under pressure

Surely comments like this and pleading for things he knows can’t happen by an @AllBlacks then make it hard for community refs next weekend. What’s the bet @NZRugby do nothing about it and more refs leave. Does this type of behaviour normalise worse abuse? stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/su…

Four new referees - Lauren Jenner, Maggie Cogger-Orr, Kat Roche and Julianne Zussman - will make their @Womens6Nations referee debuts in this year's Championship

Latest clarification jumping to avoid a tackle is dangerous play, diving to score (and tackling the diving player) is still okay

A message from the SRRS committee

Bill McLaren introducing referees is EXACTLY what you need in your life right now 🎤 #GuinnessSixNations #ThrowbackThursday

@rugby_ap @worldrugbymedia @WorldRugby I think you misread it. The clarification relates to when you can fall on the ball not when it is out. When it is out is still as the clarification says “when it is in motion away from the ruck, or when the ball is sitting just beyond the hindmost player.”

@worldrugbymedia @WorldRugby Imagine any other part of the game worked like this. You’re not offside unless you’re a metre offside, you’re not in touch unless you’re a metre in touch, you can score a try as long as it is ‘near’ the try line. Utterly bizarre ‘clarification’

Law Clarification: when a ball is deemed to have emerged from a ruck & when an opposing player is legally entitled to gather it world.rugby/the-game/laws/… #rugby via @worldrugby

@TweetingYet @rugby_ap @worldrugbymedia @WorldRugby Correct

The official @WorldRugby clarification for the question we get asked almost every week #whenisitout #reugbyref

New kit supplier for our elite referees

World’s top female match officials appointed to U20 Six Nations to enhance preparations fo... world.rugby/news/680998?la… #rugby via @worldrugby