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When a player gives away a penalty. The referee decides that a player has committed an offence, resulting in a penalty being awarded against that player’s team.

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How it’s identified

  • Referee raises one arm straight up for an immediate penalty award, OR
  • Referee holds one arm straight out to the side (advantage signal). The penalty is timed to when advantage begins, not when play returns.

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Notes

  • Free kicks (referee’s arm bent at the elbow at 90 degrees) are not coded as infringements.
  • Scrum resets, onside management without advantage, and unplayable ball in a maul or ruck are not infringements.
  • A referee signalling advantage multiple times for the same offence is still one infringement.