In the 66th minute of the Six Nations match between France and Ireland, a law definition change that has gone largely unchecked for eight years was thrown into the spotlight.<\/p>\n
In January of 2018, World Rugby launched an updated lawbook after an extensive review that took almost two years.<\/p>\n
World Rugby\u2019s law simplifications<\/p>\n
The remit of the review was to simplify the laws of the game, and it resulted in the explanations of the laws being cut down by as much as 42 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs our game continues to grow around the world, we continue to strive to make the sport as accessible to all,\u201d then-World Rugby<\/a> Chairman Bill Beaumont said at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe laws can be difficult to understand for new participants and fans, and the new law book goes a long way towards simplifying it and making it easier to understand for players, coaches, referees and the viewing public.\u201d<\/p>\n The rewriting of the laws meant that small tweaks have occurred through the definitions of certain facets and laws of the game.<\/p>\n One of which is the mark with Thomas Ramos<\/a>\u2018 catch in the latter stages of the opening Six Nations match of the season leaving viewers baffled, including England great Austin Healey.<\/p>\n From a lineout in the 66th minute of the match, Ireland<\/a> worked the ball out to fly-half Sam Prendergast, who hoisted it into the Paris night sky as his centre Garry Ringrose went tearing after it.<\/p>\n Ringrose put significant pressure on French full-back Ramos, who was unable to catch the ball cleanly a few metres from his try-line, fumbling it backwards before juggling it into his grasp and raising his arm for the mark.<\/p>\n France<\/a> were duly awarded a free-kick by referee Karl Dickson, with the full-back then punting the ball into touch, giving Ireland a lineout outside the French 22.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n The change<\/p>\n The fact that Ramos didn\u2019t catch the ball cleanly with his first attempt is where the confusion lies with Healey posting, \u201cYou can\u2019t mark a juggle\u2019, on social media platform X during the game.<\/p>\n He was not alone in thinking as much, though with other comments reading along the lines of, \u201cThat is not a mark. You have to take it cleanly\u201d. That was certainly the case before World Rugby updated and simplified the lawbook in 2018.<\/p>\n In the 2017 World Rugby lawbook, the definition of a mark reads as follows: \u201cTo make a mark, a player must be on or behind that player\u2019s 22-metre line. A player with one foot on the 22-metre line or behind it is considered to be \u2018in the 22\u2019. The player must make a clean catch direct from an opponent\u2019s kick and at the same time shout \u201cMark\u201d. A mark cannot be made from a kick-off, or a restart kick, except for a drop-out.\u201d<\/p>\n Opinion: France leave Ireland \u2018shellshocked\u2019 after Paris \u2018horror show\u2019 with England primed to feast on complacency<\/a><\/p>\n However, the lawbook, since the update in 2018, omits the need for a player to make a \u201cclean catch\u201d to claim a mark, provided that they complete the catch before it touches the ground or another player.<\/p>\n It further clarifies that a mark can be called even if the ball has hit the goal post or crossbar before being caught.<\/p>\n \u201cA method of suspending play and winning a free-kick by directly catching an opponent\u2019s kick in the catcher\u2019s own 22 or in in-goal and shouting \u2018mark\u2019,\u201d the updated definition reads.<\/p>\n Law 17.1 on claiming a mark, adds:<\/p>\n \u201cTo claim a mark, a player must:<\/p>\n a. Have at least one foot on or behind their own 22-metre line when catching the ball or when landing having caught it in the air; and It continues: \u201c17.2 A player may claim a mark even if the ball hits a goal post or crossbar before being caught.<\/p>\n \u201c17.3 When a mark is called correctly, the referee immediately stops the game and awards a free-kick to the team in possession.<\/p>\n \u201c17.4 A mark may not be claimed from a kick-off or a restart kick after a score.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramos met the updated requirements with his catch.<\/p>\n France player ratings v Ireland: \u2018Magic\u2019 Louis Bielle-Biarrey \u2018playing a different game\u2019 but bench nearly squander \u2018unloseable position\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Nothing to it \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8\ud83d\ude4c#GuinnessM6N<\/a> #Since1883<\/a> #FRAIRL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kAU9peqTtw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Guinness Men\u2019s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
b.\u00a0Catch a ball that has reached the plane of the 22-metre line directly from an opponent\u2019s kick before it touches the ground or another player; and
c.\u00a0Simultaneously call \u2018mark\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n