Quote ="talulah"It's like Cherry Pie never posted this
Have a look at the rules here:[urlhttp://library.thinkquest.org/3369/rugby/rule.htm[/url and read section 11.5.
Until the tackle was complete - i.e. [uhis sliding had stopped[/u and opposition players were holding him - he was within his rights to put the ball over the line.'"
Thats not what rule 11.5 states, to quote:
"11.5) If a
tackled player,
because of his momentum, slides along the ground, the tackle is deemed to have been effected
where his slide ends."
His slide ended 2 feet before the line, it was his is double movement that allowed the ball to cross it.
The crucial word being 'tackled' player in the past tense as opposed to the player being tackled. The player is tackled when his ball carrying arm hits the ground (rule 11.2 a) it's up to momentum then to dictate where the ball finishes.
According to rule 11.5 the tackle is effected
where his slide ends, not
when his slide ends. Therefore in between being tackled and his slide ending he is still a tackled player and can't, for example pass the ball, or intentionally twist and lift his arm up and place the ball over the try line.
Moreover rule 11.5 says explicitily states "because of momentum". The ball did not cross the line because of momentum.
It was great work by Sam Tomkins but personally I think the video ref made a mistake and I think rule 11.5 proves it. To be fair the video ref does not get the opportunity to scrutinise the rules to the extent we just have.
