The Jonah Lomu RugbyTM Social Club Official Rules

1. Document acronyms and specifics

The word Players with a capital P is the team controller

The word players with a small p are the in-game characters
TMO - Third Match Official
NPCC - Non-Player Controlled Characters
RWC - Rugby World Cup

2. Match Specifics

2.1 People involved

2 or 4 Players depending on match type

1 TMO (Referee refers to the in-game official)
Crowd

2.2 Standard Match Conditions

7-minute games
Fouls and penalties on
Eastern Terrace View (other views may be used for TMO)
Random weather
Wind level at Players and TMOs agreement (Gale set as default)

3. Rules and Amendments

Each game must start with handshakes between competitors, and a unified election of an unbiased
TMO (if not already selected prior).

A game of Jonah should follow a standard rugby match rules outlined here:

http://www.irb.com/lawregulations/index.html

However, due to discrepancies in coding there are a number of amendments.

1. The game awards a penalty to a late tackle of a kicker at the point at which the ball lands, rather
than the correct place where the kick was taken. This is to be taken as a tap; unless the TMO
claims there to be malicious intent, in which case any of the available options may be selected at
the TMOs discretion.

1.1 If the kicker was performing a legitimate drop goal attempt, a referral to the
replay may be actioned. Alternative in game views will be used to determine if
the kick was going to make it or not. If it would have, a penalty place kick can be
taken to get the points, if not the above overarching rule applies.
2. The game deems a player offside if a ruck has formed and the Player presses forward while a
defender is running back onside. To avoid this, a Player must hold back or no direction. If the
Player does not do this a penalty is awarded. However, if the defender (as an NPCC) catches the
ball, the game awards an unfair penalty. At the TMOs discretion, this must be taken as a tap.

3. A player is often deemed offside when there is a drop kick/knock on/grubber that is picked
up by a returning NPCC. At the TMOs discretion, this penalty will be taken as a tap.

4. Any other anomalous penalties or calls will be taken at the TMOs discretion.

5. There must only be one successful dumby per possession (please be honest).

6. No offloads to be performed while being taken to ground in a circle (smother) tackle.

NOTE: This rule is subject to change to one smother (or Sonny Bill as it is colloquially known)
offload per possession in coming tournaments, similar to rule 5. Please talk about this with
match officials before any official competition starts.

7. Each player is allowed two referrals to the TMO (TMO analysis using the replay function)
on uncertain calls during a single match. The plaintiff must state their claim and the defendant
must state their counter claim. The TMO then makes the final decision based on these rules and
the video footage. The Players must have no further arguments during decision making.

8. Please play hard, but play fair and remember the club motto:

"The object of the game is to score more points than the opposition. There are no prizes for
second place".

A final note: There are no knock-ons in the game and play continues as normal.

Document History:

Created: 03/05/2013 Damien Innes Taylor

Updated to Version 2: 05/08/2017 Damien Innes Taylor Update rules and changed wording