During the 2015 Rugby World Cup that was hosted in England, former Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar popularised the “Biggarena” dance kicking routine of his. Two-time Rugby World Cup winner then did an amusing send-up of it to the ‘Macarena’. Now a South African rugby player has gone and done an absolute mockery of it to the amusement of many, except an unhappy referee.
In a video doing the rounds on social media and YouTube, an unknown player from an unknown team from the Western Cape is about to kick for goals in what was either a penalty or a conversion. To the pleasure of the screaming crowd, he starts doing the Biggarena, with the person recording the bizarre scene shouting this out.
After several seconds, the referee then blows his whistle to penalise him. He signals to the kicker that the kicker can no longer go ahead with the goal attempt, to the disappointment of the crowd.
A look at World Rugby’s website reads in black-and-white stating what the offense was and what the sanction that should meet the crime, with the following:
“Speeding up the game
Players and match officials are reminded of the following existing laws which need to be strictly adhered to across the game at all levels:
Law 8.8d Conversion. The kicker takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed.
Law 8.21: Penalty Goal: The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded.
Law 9.7d A player must not waste time. Sanction: Free Kick
Law 18.12 Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick.
Law 19.4 Scrum: Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made. Sanction: Free-kick.
For elite rugby, we encourage broadcasters and match hosts to implement on-screen (TV and stadia) shot clocks, usually administered by the Time Keeper, for penalties and conversion to ensure referees, players and spectators can monitor the adherence of these laws.
We also encourage Unions/Competitions to apply to trial reduced times for kicks at goal to speed the game up. The outcomes of these trials can then be fed into the law review process for 2023-27.
