Tokyo (AFP)
Can an injured or suspended player be replaced? Can the video referee intervene without being asked? Do typhoons really threaten the tournament? Some rules to know about the Rugby World Cup, which starts Friday in Japan.
Q: Can we still get tickets?
A: Yes, but we must act quickly. Organizing Committee Chairman Akira Shimazu said 95 percent of the tickets had been sold for the 48 matches played in 12 stadiums, and he hoped to reach 100 percent for this first-ever Asian event.
Q: Can a match be canceled due to a natural disaster?
A: The issue haunts the World Cup when a typhoon has caused serious damage recently in the Tokyo area. The organizers have included the possibility of canceling some matches in the group stage if they can not be played on the same day. Such a decision, taken the day before, should be confirmed by the organizing committee and World Rugby between 6 and 8 hours before the kick-off, and the 2 points of the draw (0-0) granted to each team. A potentially disastrous scenario for the favorites of each group. For knockout matches, World Rugby expects a two-day postponement or even a "longer period" if necessary. The deferred matches will be played in Tokyo or Yokohama, said tournament director Alan Gilpin.
Q: Will the video referee take power?
A: He is not one of the officials who has "control" of the game, according to World Rugby. But since the safety of the players is the priority displayed for this edition, its role becomes inevitably essential. In their hunt for high tack, considered dangerous, the referees will automatically use the TMO (video referee) to determine if the action deserves a red card, a yellow or a simple penalty. But the TMO can only take the initiative in one case: that of a test that would be tainted by a foul of the attacking team. "He has the right to watch 2 rucks or 2 mauls before the test scored," said referee Alain Rolland. "If we see clearly that there is an offside or an offside, he has the right to give the information to the referee." In the meantime, the latter must delay the transformation kick.
Q: In which cases do we go to Discipline Committee?
A: Automatically in case of red card; accumulation of three yellow cards or citation commissioner warnings in several matches (wiped out after the quarter-finals) or two in the same match, or at least one citation.
The discipline commissioner of each game has 36 hours after the final whistle to name a player. The opponent may request a player's citation within 12 hours after the final whistle; this request is then submitted to the Commissioner. The hearing of the player concerned takes place in the aftermath, the day after the match, in Tokyo, with public communication of the decision in stride. The player has 48 hours to appeal after notification of the sanction.
Q: In which cases can a player be replaced?
A: Only in case of injury to one of the 31 players on the list of each team, but not in case of suspension. The injury will be certified by an independent doctor and a player declared injured will not be able to take part in the competition.
© 2019 AFP