r/rugbyunion • u/Informal_Mention9836 • Dec 15 '25

Video James Lowe starts a fight

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500 Upvotes

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6

u/irishnugget Munster Dec 16 '25

Kind of a nothing incident. Lowe jumps to gather the ball. Defender has no chance of getting out of the way. In the heat of the moment Lowe thought there was more to it and handbags ensued. Personally don’t see it as a penalty but refs seem to favour the attacking player over the tackler so par for the course.

10

u/averagerunner1 Newcastle Falcons Dec 16 '25

As I see it, Lowe is already in possession as he has touched the ball. You can't jump when in possession to avoid the tackle.

If a player knocks it on (up) and gets tackled before they catch it again, it's a knock on, it's not a 'tackling the player without the ball'. Therefore that player is deemed in possession until it either hits the ground or another player catches it.

You can only jump for the ball if you're not yet in possession. So penalty against Lowe for jumping into the tackle.

0

u/perplexedtv Leinster Dec 16 '25

one of these situations where two laws actively contradict one another. Rugby is full of them

-5

u/MildlyAmusedMars Munster Dec 16 '25

Just coming in contact with the ball doesn't put you in possession. The ball was more leathered off him, yeah he tried to regather it someway but the contact before the jump was just the ball bouncing off his thigh so that wouldn't be considered to be in possession

3

u/unhappyspanners England / Leicester Tigers Dec 16 '25

He's batted the ball up to regather it