Why do referees say ‘use it’ in Six Nations games when the ball is in a ruck?

WALES are out to defend their Six Nations title as the Championship begins in earnest.

Rugby Union is a game with a multitude of rules and regulations – and if you’re new to the sport, it might be a bit confusing to follow.

Referees have a microphone for live TV games and you’ll get to hear them constantly giving instructions to the players, as well as passing important information to the captains.

Why do referees say ‘use it’ in Six Nations games?

THINGS tend to happen at speed on the field and it’s not always easy to follow what is going on.

The referee will be constantly chattering away at the teams, informing them and the crowd of any potential penalty.

And one of the most common phrases you’ll hear him say is ‘use it’.

This will happen at the ruck or the maul, when the team in possession is failing to move forward with the ball.

The referee is telling them to effectively use the ball – or play it – by passing out of the ruck and trying to move down field.

Failure to play the ball upon the command will result in a scrum and possession will switch to the other team.

The official law of the game states that the ball mustn’t stop moving forward for longer than five seconds in a maul or ruck.

The laws of World Rugby state:

• When the ball has been clearly won by a team at the ruck, and is available to be played, the referee calls “use it” after which the ball must be played away from the ruck within five seconds.
• The ruck ends and play continues when the ball leaves the ruck or when the ball in the ruck is on or over the goal line.
• The ruck ends when the ball becomes unplayable. If the referee decides that the ball will probably not emerge within a reasonable time, a scrum is awarded.

Six Nations fixtures this weekend

• Saturday, February 8 – Ireland vs Wales at 2.15pm
• Saturday, February 8 – Scotland vs England at 4.45pm
• Sunday, February 9 – France vs Italy at 3pm