For anyone who was debating the rules of rugby last sat with me - or even if you weren't!

Is an offence committed when a player "juggles" the ball on catching it? This happened in the England game I think but I can't remember the example.

BTW English Mike (or others), if you still care:

Rule 14 of the IRB:
http://www.irb.com/mm/Document/LawsRegs/0/070110LGLAW14_688.pdf

Knock-on
"a knockon occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes
forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm,
or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball
touches the ground or another player before the original player can
catch it."

Therefore, we agree it can't be a knock on if it's just the same player "juggling" the catch and it doesn't hit another player or the ground.

Throw forward
"A throw forward occurs when a player throws or passes the ball
forward. ‘Forward’ means towards the opposing team’s dead ball line."

A throw or pass seems to suggest a positive action by the player. I suggest that this would extend to if the ball was put around/over another player whether by accident or otherwise - as we agreed.

But I'm still unsure how much "juggling" could go on - consider a player running at speed trying to gain control of a pass, after a while he does so, he runs 5 metres crosses the line and scores a try. Consider also when that payer could be tackled if he doesn't "have" the ball.

...and yes, I am a lawyer!

Correct - I believe a player can juggle as far as he can however it is down to the interpretaion of the referee as to whether it is a throw forward - I would suggest the difference is whether he has a form of control on the ball. Realistically the further he tries to juggle it the more chance he has of dropping it.

As for the tackling of the player I believe that if the player is juggling the ball by effect he has made contact with it and is therfore could be tackled but once again it is open to interpretation.

Pleased to learn that I am correct that it isn't a knock on unless it hits another player or the ground, I think that this is where the debate started.

The fact that we had this conversation last weekend shows just how dire the game between Scotland and England was although the conditions were bad - well done to Scotland for adapting to the conditions well and playing the better game though.

...no I am not a lawyer, just the forum Rugby comentator!

I agree, I thought it rested with "control" too but was surprised not to see a reference to that in the laws - I expect there is some guidance for referees to that I haven't located.

I imagine the rule on tackling says something like a player must have "posession" of the ball, but that doesn't really fit with a player juggling the ball.

English Mike - Can you remember the circumstances of play that led to the debate?