Regulation 17 Appendix 1 - World Rugby Sanctions for foul play (Regulation 17)
Note: Any act of foul play which results in contact with the head and/or the neck shall result in at least a mid-range sanction. (5)
Note: Where a Player receives a mid-range or top end sanction, a Disciplinary Committee/Judicial Officer/Appeal Committee/Appeal Officer may, at its discretion, agree that one week of the sanction may be replaced by a “Coaching Intervention” that complies with the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme. (6)
9.11 Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.12 A player must not physically abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to:
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Biting |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Intentional Contact with Eye(s) (7) |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Reckless Contact with Eye(s) (8) |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Contact with Eye Area (9) |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Punching or striking with hand, arm (including stiff-arm tackle), elbow or shoulder |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Leading with the forearm |
Low end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Striking with head (10) |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Striking with knee |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Stamping or Trampling |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Tripping |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Kicking |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.12 A player must not verbally abuse anyone. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation.
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Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.13 A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.14 A player must not tackle an opponent who is not in possession of the ball.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.15 Except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player who is not in possession of the ball must not hold, push, charge or obstruct an opponent not in possession of the ball.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.16 A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the ball without attempting to grasp that player.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.17 A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.18 A player must not lift an opponent off the ground and drop or drive that player so that their head and/or upper body make contact with the ground.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.19 Dangerous play in a scrum.
a. The front row of a scrum must not form at a distance from its opponents and rush against them.
b. A front-row player must not pull an opponent.
c. A front-row player must not intentionally lift an opponent off their feet or force the opponent upwards out of the scrum.
d. A front-row player must not intentionally collapse a scrum.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul.
a. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
b. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.
c. A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck or a maul.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.25 A player must not intentionally charge or obstruct an opponent who has just kicked the ball.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.27 A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship including but not limited to:
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Hair pulling or grabbing |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Spitting at anyone |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals (and/or breasts in the case of female players) |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
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Other |
Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.28 A player must not disrespect the authority of a Match Official.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.28 A player must not verbally abuse a Match Official. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.28 A player must not make physical contact with Match Officials.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.28 A player must not use threatening actions or words towards Match Officials.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: |
9.28 A player must not physically abuse Match Officials.
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Low-end: |
Mid-range: |
Top-end: |
Max: Life |
In respect of offences not referred to in Appendix 1 above, appropriate sanctions may be imposed at the discretion of the relevant Judicial Officer, Disciplinary Committee, Appeal Officer and/or Appeal Committee (as the case may be).
Notwithstanding the Sanctions in Appendix 1 and/or the provisions of Regulation 17.19 in cases where the player’s actions constitute mid-range or top end offending for any type of offence which had the potential to result and, in fact, did result in serious/gross consequences to the health of the victim, the Judicial Officers and/or Disciplinary Committees may impose any period of suspension including a suspension for life.
(5) The note does not apply to the following Laws whose low-end entry points already take into account head contact being a potential feature or consequence of such breach reaching the red-card threshold: 9.12 (biting, contact with eye(s)/eye area and, striking with head and tripping), 9.18 and 9.27 (hair pulling).
(6) The World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme is only available for foul play offences occurring under the “Head Contact Process”
(7), (8) and (9) The “eye” involves all tissues including the eye lids within and covering the orbital cavity and the “eye area” is anywhere in close proximity to the eye.
(10) Head-on-head contact arising out of a tackle situation should ordinarily be sanctioned under Law 9.13 below.