The referee rules — how to navigate rugby's labyrinthine laws without losing your mind

Daily Maverick

23-06-2025

It's nearly time for the South Africa versus Italy match, and Nelson Mandela Bay is buzzing with Bok fever. Daron Mann is back with Rugby Skool — a tongue-in-cheek rugby crash course for those who've ever wondered what on earth is going down during a match.
Rugby's rules are like quantum physics; nobody fully gets them, but everyone claps when they work. In Rugby Skool today, we're tackling the game's dictator – the referee – as well as his whistle and a rulebook that's thicker than a prop's neck.
The ref's job? Quite simply, to keep 30 rampaging players from turning the pitch into a scene from Gladiator. He/she will whistle for knock-ons (dropping the ball) or passing it forward, for offside (standing where you shouldn't), or when someone gets a bit too, er, … 'enthusiastic' in their endeavours. These penalties give the opposition either a kick or a scrum. Sounds straightforward? Ha. Anything but – rugby's laws have more layers than an onion and can lead to just as many tears.
Take the ruck, for example: if you don't join correctly (from behind the last line of feet), or let go of the ball quickly enough, the whistle blows. Lineouts? Bump a bloke while he's in the air jumping for the ball and you're toast. Even fans scream 'What the %$@!?!' half the time. Pro tip: when the ref penalises anyone, just nod sagely. In rugby, nobody argues with the whistle, except maybe grizzled flankers and mouthy scrumhalfs, who then get marched back 10 metres for their troubles.
The beauty's in the flow – rugby's chaos somehow works, like a bar fight with a conductor. Watch the ref's signals (they're a bit like interpretive dance) and you'll catch on.
Next, we'll explore why rugby's worth watching. For now, respect the whistle. It's the only thing keeping the game from being actual anarchy. DM