Laws question

NUTLEY BOY

Player in possession of ball has a clear run to opponents' try line.

Somebody in the crowd [unidentified] blows a whistle and causes the player to stop and to be tackled by the defending team.

What decision should the referee make ?

My guess would be to restart with a scrum to the attacking team.

I don't think so; I think the ref would just let the game carry on. No reason to stop the play. Let the ruck proceed and see who emerges with the ball.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058271465/laws-question

I think if one team stops and the other continues playing the team that continues to play will simply get the benefit.

Ultimately if both stop playing he would likely restart with scrum I think.

This happened recently I think? Its ringing a bell with me anyway, not the same but one team expected a whistle for something and stopped.

Losty Dublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058271465/laws-question

Play on is the call as the match referee did not stop the game. The pitch of a referee whistle is very different, even from a distance away, so the chances of this happening are very slim at best.

As a nerdy pedant, almost all rugby referees use the Acme Thunderer, primarily because of the control of tones, notes and velocity that it offers on the field. FIFA and swimming coaches prefers the Acme Tornado as it provides a louder and more consistent note throughout.

Clareman

Play on is the call, you can't legislate for what someone heard from the crowd (or think they heard or say they heard), every team would just have someone in the crowd with a whistle and use it stop everything. Players know as well the difference between a refs call and something from the crowd and if in doubt they play on until told to stop.