Adam SutcliffeObstruction
November 30th 2006 11:24
Rugby League Rule Interpretations
Every Monday we will offer an interpretation of the some of the major rules in rugby league. If there are any rules that you are not sure about, just let me know in the Comment section below.
Cheers,
StephenP
With all the controversy surrounding the Brisbane penalty awarded in the recent NRL grand final, we thought it would be timely to analyse the Obstruction rule, or as it is commonly known, the Shepard rule.
Obstruction Rule (Shepard)
The simplest way of describing an obstruction play, is for a player to illegally run behind one of his team-mates, thus impeding the defenders who are attempting to tackle the ball runner.
For example, in the grand final last Sunday, Broncos hooker Shaun Berrigan clearly ran behind his team mate Brad Thorn, who was accidentally impeding one Melbourne defender. Berrigan then scooted through the hole in defence that was created by the Melbourne defender being impeded, thus creating an obstruction move. Melbourne should have received a penalty straight away, but the referee allowed play to continue.
From the ensuing play, Brisbane received a penalty for a head high tackle on Berrigan, thus creating the resulting controversy.
While it seems fairly simple to say that a player cannot run behind his own team mate, this is not always the case. Well constructed attacking plays actually allow attackers to run behind their team mates legally, and are known as decoy moves. As long as a defender is not impeded from making a tackle on the ball runner, than play is allowed to continue.
That’s about as simplified as I can make the Obstruction rule for the novice fans out there, but if there are any questions regarding this, please ask in the comment section below.
Cheers,
StephenP
Every Monday we will offer an interpretation of the some of the major rules in rugby league. If there are any rules that you are not sure about, just let me know in the Comment section below.
Cheers,
StephenP
With all the controversy surrounding the Brisbane penalty awarded in the recent NRL grand final, we thought it would be timely to analyse the Obstruction rule, or as it is commonly known, the Shepard rule.
Obstruction Rule (Shepard)
The simplest way of describing an obstruction play, is for a player to illegally run behind one of his team-mates, thus impeding the defenders who are attempting to tackle the ball runner.
For example, in the grand final last Sunday, Broncos hooker Shaun Berrigan clearly ran behind his team mate Brad Thorn, who was accidentally impeding one Melbourne defender. Berrigan then scooted through the hole in defence that was created by the Melbourne defender being impeded, thus creating an obstruction move. Melbourne should have received a penalty straight away, but the referee allowed play to continue.
From the ensuing play, Brisbane received a penalty for a head high tackle on Berrigan, thus creating the resulting controversy.
While it seems fairly simple to say that a player cannot run behind his own team mate, this is not always the case. Well constructed attacking plays actually allow attackers to run behind their team mates legally, and are known as decoy moves. As long as a defender is not impeded from making a tackle on the ball runner, than play is allowed to continue.
That’s about as simplified as I can make the Obstruction rule for the novice fans out there, but if there are any questions regarding this, please ask in the comment section below.
Cheers,
StephenP
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