Derek Stoltz was busy reffing the top of the table OUA Mens clash between Queens and Western when, literally out of the blue, a parachute landed in the middle of the Queens backs.  

The Western Rugby ground is adjacent to the Football Field.  Homecoming was in full swing.  The half-time show featured a group of parachutists dropping in to centre field.  Unfortunately, things did not go quite according to plan.  For whatever reason, they missed!   Faced with the choice of landing on nearby buildings, parking lots, or even in the river, the Rugby field looked like their best bet.   

And that's how Derek was faced with a dilemma not covered by Law!  Or is it?

The Law 6.A.8(g) says the referee must blow the whistle if it would be dangerous to let play continue.  It doesn't actually mention parachutes but that Law could be applied here.  It could also be applied for lightning or when a dog or a child wanders onto the field.  The referee has a lot of discretion.

After extracting the parachutists from the tangled mess and moving them to a safer palce, how do you restart the match?   A scrum seems reasonable - and Law 20.4(d) appears to be applicable.  

Scrum after any other stoppage : After any other stoppage or irregularity not covered by Law, the team that was moving forward prior to the stoppage throws in the ball.  If neither side was moving forward, the attacking team throws in the ball.

But isn't the attacking team the one that was moving forward?   Not necessarily!    The definition of an attacking team is "The opponents of the defending team in whose half of the ground play is taking place".   We often misuse the term "attacking team" to mean the team with the ball but, by Law, that is not correct.

So next time you are faced with a parachute landing in the middle of the backs, or other "irregularity not covered by Law",  you will know what to do.