The International Board (IRB) has stepped in to outlaw the practice of what is termed "squeezeball", particularly in the under-18 and below categories of rugby union. The squeezeball technique involves a ball carrier making contact with opponents, going to round, usually keeping his/her body parallel to the touchline, holding the ball on his/her chest and, when on the floor, protecting and pushing the ball back through his/her legs. This results in ball retention and subsequent presentation for the side in possession.

The safety issues for young players were obvious - (i) the ball carrier exposing his/her neck to danger from arriving players from either team; (ii) the ball carrier not moving away/not being able to move away; (iii) arriving players being driven to ground by team-mates and landing dangerously themselves; driving dangerously against/onto the nape of the neck of an opponent trying to pick up the ball; Driving dangerously onto the player executing the "squeezeball" technique. All this in an attempt to retain or regain the ball on the ground.

Earlier this month the IRB issued the following note on the interpretation of Law 15.6 (d) - the tackled player: "Law 15.6(d) states: 'A tackled player may release the ball by pushing it along the ground in any direction except forward, providing this is done immediately.' In recent times players having been tackled or who go to ground have done so ensuring the ball is underneath them, they then push the ball along the ground and through their legs (a practice known as squeezeball).

On most occasions when players attempt to push the ball along the ground under their bodies they are not making the ball available immediately and they are in contravention of Law 14.1 and Law 15.6 (d). Players who attempt the action are liable to penalty unless the ball is immediately available."

The word "immediately" is stressed.