|
Clothing
Two
new rulings have been issued by the United States
of America Rugby Referees Association (USARRA).
They are both effective immediately. The first
relates to the requirement for an IRB authorized
mark on some equipment worn by players, the second
relates to the soles of the multi-studded boots.
Please disseminate the rulings to referees and
clubs in your local area union as soon as
possible.
IRB
Authorized Mark
In
accordance with Law 4.6 shoulder pads, headgear
and chest pads worn by players must bear the
authorized mark of the IRB to indicate that they
conform to the Law of the Game. Law 4.7 (a)
requires that referees (or touch judges) inspect
equipment to ensure conformance. The Laws became
effective worldwide on October 1, 2000, but were
not actively applied in the USA during the fall
season. The informal grace period gave rugby
equipment suppliers the opportunity to obtain
approved equipment and the players a chance to
purchase the new equipment as it became available.
The equipment is now readily available and the
grace period must now come to an end. USA Rugby
must come into conformance with the Law and the
rest of the World.
After
extensive discussion among the Laws subcommittee
and USARRA, and in discussion with representatives
of the Rugby Football Union (of England) we
recognized that, in not inspecting equipment as
required by Law 4.7 (a), referees were exposing
themselves the specter of legal liability. With
that specifically in mind, we made the decision to
enforce the law as currently written, without
deviation or without grant of any further grace
period for implementation. Additional impetus for
the decision came from the fact that many players
are wearing black headgear that is known to be
without the IRB authorized mark by its very color.
Specifically, the IRB has stated that no black
headgear will receive its approval because of the
difficulty in seeing blood on such headgear.
Therefore,
effective immediately all referees are required to
enforce Law 4.6 by conducting an inspection of a
player's clothing and studs as required by Law
4.7(a).
Multi
studded Soles
Over
the past year or so, several models of rugby boots
have appeared on the market that do not have the
traditional circular studs, bur instead have a
series of low profile ridges, sometimes referred
to, perhaps unfortunately, as "blades".
The following provides a basis for determining
which of those boots conform to the Law.
- Acceptable studs
and soles are covered under Law 4.4.
- Sections (a),
(b) and (c) cover the requirements for
traditional studs. Some molded and multi
-studded soles may be considered as acceptable
under these provisions.
- Section (d)
covers the requirements for acceptability for
those boots with multi-studded soles that are
not considered as acceptable under any part of
sections (a), (b) or (c).
- To meet the
requirements of section (d) the multi-studded
sole must be entirely molded from rubber. If
any part of the sole or studs is other than
rubber (e.g. plastic or metal) the boots are
unacceptable.
- To meet the
requirements of section (d) the multi-studded
sole must have no sharp edges or ridges.
- The restriction
in section (b) is intended to apply to
traditional studs, and does not apply to the
soles considered in section (d). Thus the
individual studs of such multi-studded soles
do not have to be circular, provided that they
have no sharp edges or ridges.
- If the soles and
studs, traditional and otherwise, meet the
above provisions but, in the referee's
opinion, the boot is liable to cause injury to
a player the referee should prohibit the boot.
Such a prohibition is provided for under Law
4.5 (h).
December 31, 2000
|
