The following section contains information for referees in Wellington to make uniform decisions.
IRB Scrum Law or Domestic Safety Law Variations (DSLV) Scrum Law Application in Wellington:
- IRB Scrum Law: Premier, Senior-1 and Senior-2 grades
- Domestic Safety Law Variation Scrum Law: Senior-3 and below. This, obviously, includes all Secondary School Grades.
DSLV Scrum Law – configuration of scrums when numbers are reduced
Wellington Rugby Referees Association directive:
The number of players, from each team, participating in scrums MUST ALWAYS be equal in games where DSLV Scrum Laws are being applied. If a team is reduced in numbers from the standard 15 players, the following scrum management needs to be applied:
- If a backline player is missing, scrum numbers are not affected, therefore scrums must be 8 v 8.
- If a forward player is missing, BOTH teams must reduce their scrum participant numbers so that they are equal. This applies regardless of which team is throwing the ball into the scrum!!
- Reduction of 1 forward player – scrums are 7 players v 7 players
- Reduction of 2 forward players from one team – scrums are 6 v 6
- Reduction of 3 forward players from one team – scrums are 5 v 5
- [15-aside and 10-aside scrums cannot ever be less than 5 v 5 players]
Teams are not entitled to play 8 players in a scrum if a forward player is missing, neither should they be required to do so by the referee.
