Making an advantage call in rugby is quite simple. The referee wants to mark the place of the infraction and allow play to continue. The last thing he wants to do is blow the whistle.

Understanding the concepts of "advantage"

There is no advantage if you blow your whistle! Experienced players know when advantage is being used because they are aware that an infraction has taken place, and they know the referee knows! The latter's acknowledgment (not blowing the whistle) symbolizes that the game continues with the non-infraction team "playing advantage."

Rugby officials with little experience are prone to calling fewer advantages. The result is that they get yelled at by both sides because people want to watch game action — not frequent realignments for scrums.

Though scrums are an inevitable part of rugby, in international matches they are less a part of the game than open play for two simple reasons. First, players are better at keeping the ball moving; second, referees use advantage — often!

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