|Rucking and mauling offences|
|Around the Academy:
The ruck and maul can be quite a complicated business.
So you need to understand there are certain things you can and can't do.
For example, when a ball carrier has been tackled to the ground, they have to let go of the ball.
No excuses - the laws say so, so you've got to release the ball.
But often players purposely hold onto the ball when they have gone down in a tackle.
This is to stop the other team getting hold of the ball and starting a quick attack.
But if the referee sees a player holding onto the ball on the ground, he will immediately award a penalty to the opposing team.