Doesn't seem to be the case anymore. A few of the Ref's who ref my games at the weekend have actually told us they will be going a yard further back in order to get a better view of the defensive line, so the teams are allowed to stand a yard in front of the ref. Can't say I agree with it personally because it's pretty hard to judge whether you're onside or not.

Maybe it was. But that doesn't exist anymore either.

all the players in this picture are at least 10 meters from the PTB... whats the problem?

A good hit, Rhys did well to get up, play the ball and carry on. This is what the game is all about.

It is also weight behind the argument of those wanting the onside reducing back to 5yrds because the impact would be less causing less injuries.

What I would personally say to this is, in this incident, in the hit by Makali Aizue on Scott Wheeldon a few years back and that famous Sam Burgess hit, all of the opponents got up and carried on without injury. Maybe a groggy head or a bit of bruising but nothing major.

aand Luke Burgess?

Ball is in play as soon as it touches the ground, not when it is played backwards. He might have just been a tad offside. Anyway, it was a cracking hit.