Players
The game shall be played by two teams of 13 players, with another 4
pre-named players available for six interchanges. The players are numbered 1 to
13 with additional numbers for substitutes. The numbers normally relate to the
players position as shown.
1.Full back - This player is the last line of defense and must be able to
take bombs (high kicks) under pressure.
2.Right wing three-quarter (Wing) - The wing is usually the faster player
on the field. He usually take the ball after a back line movement and
tends to score many tries.
3.Right centre three-quarter (Centre) - the centre is usually a quick but
solid player who has the ability to break the oppositions line.
4.Left centre three-quarter (Centre) - see right centre three-quarter
5.Left wing three-quarter (Wing) - see right wing three-quarter
6.Five-eighth half (Stand off) - the 5/8 is a key player and usually has a
good kicking game and ball skills.
7.Scrum half - the half back is the play maker around the ruck area. He
decides to feed the back line or work with the forwards.
8.Prop forward (Prop) - The props are the biggest players on the field and
are relied upon to hit the ball up all day and to defend will.
9.Hooking forward (Hooker) - the hooking role has changed over the
years. It used to be a skill of hooking the ball during the scrum but is now
more a defending and dummy-half role.
10.Front-row forward (Prop or front-row) - see prop forward
11.Second-row forward (Second-row) - the second rower is typically a
combination between the props and the lock forward.
12.Second-row forward (Second-row) - see above
13.Loose forward (known as Lock forward in Australia) - the lock forward
is a tough defended who usually tops the tackle count. He is also
generally the quickest of the forwards.
Players Equipment
A players equipment shall consist of a jersey, shorts, socks and studded boots.
Protective clothing may be worn eg. shoulder pads, head gear, mouth guard.
The colours of the jerseys worn by the teams shall be easily distinguishable and,
if, they are similar in colour then the away team will wear and alternative strip
(jersey).
The game is played with an oval air-inflated ball, typically made of leather. The
dimensions of the ball are approximately 28cm long, 74cm longest
circumference, 59cm widest circumference and weight 410g.
Point Scoring
A try is scored when the ball is grounded in the opponents' in-goal (4 points).
Once a try is scored a conversion attempt may be taken to kick the ball over
the opponents' cross-bar (2 points). If the referee cannot decide if the try was
scored he may consult the his touch judges or give the decision to the video
referee (if the game is televised).
If a player is penalised for an infringement a penalty kick for goal may be
taken if the penalty is within kicking range of the opponents' goal. This is
typically a place kick. (2 points).
If at any time during the game the attacking team is within kicking range of the
opponents' goal, a field goal make be taken. This is a drop punt (1 point). A
successful field goal to be awarded even if the ball has been touched in flight.
When a kick at goal is being taken, the referee shall assign one touch-judge to
each post. If there is no disagreement between the two touch-judges then
their decision shall be accepted. In the event of disagreement, the referee will
make the final decision.
If a player infringes an opponent who is touching down for a try, a penalty kick
at goal shall be taken from in front of the goal-posts after the attempt to
convert the try. If the try was not scored because of the infringement then a
penalty try can be given. (8 points is both goals are kicked).
After any points are scored the ball shall be deemed dead and play restarted
from the half-way line. The game shall be won by the side scoring the greater
number of points. If both sides score an equal number of points, or if both sides
fail to score, then the game shall be drawn. Finals and important games may go
to extra time of 10 minutes each way.
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick shall be awarded against any player who is guilty of misconduct
provided that is not to the disadvantage of the non-offending side. In the event
of further misconduct by the offending side, the referee shall advance the mark
10m towards the offending team's goal-line.
A player may take a penalty kick by punting, drop-kicking, or place-kicking the
ball from any point on or directly behind the mark (the place where the
infringement occurred). The ball can be kicked in any direction (including
backwards if the team requires room for a set play near the try line). If the ball
is kicked into touch from a penalty kick the game is restarted by placing the ball
on the ground 10m infield opposite the point of entry into touch.
Players of the kicker's side must be behind the ball when it is kick and players of
the opposing team shall retire 10m. If the ball is kicked into touch without
touching any other player the kicking team shall restart play with a free kick. If
a penalty is awarded for an offence by the attacking team in the opponents'
in-goal area the mark shall be 5m in the field-of-play opposite to where the
offence occurred.
Time-keeping
The game is 80 minutes' duration. At half-time there is an interval of 10
minutes. A team defends one in-goal for the first half of the game and then
change ends for the second half.
If the ball is in play when time expires , the referee terminates play when next
the ball goes out of play or a player in possession is tackled but time shall be
extended to allow a penalty kick or a kick at goal to be taken, in which case the
half is terminated when next the ball goes out of play or a tackle is effected,
unless a further penalty is awarded, in which case time is extended for the kick
to be taken.
Time may be called off for periods during the game for extended stoppages eg.
injuries.
Kick Off
The captains of the two teams shall toss for choice of ends in the presence of
the referee. The team of the captain losing the toss shall kick off to start the
game. A kick-off is a place-kick from the centre of the halfway line.
The non-scoring side will kick to restart play. If the kicker finds touch, the
kicking team will get the loose and feed.
20m Restart
The game will commence with a free kick from the centre of the 20 metre line
(ie The ball does not have to be tapped on the ground) if :-
an attacking player last touches the ball before it goes out of play over
the dead-ball-line, or into touch-in-goal except from a penalty kick or
from a kick-off from the centre of the halfway line
an attacking player infringes in the in-goal area. In the event of a
deliberate breach by an attacking player a penalty kick is awarded 5m in
the field-of-play in line with where the breach was committed
a defending player, in his in-goal, takes a kick in general play from an
opponent on the full.
Drop-Out
The game is restarted with a drop-out by a defending player from the centre of
his goal-line if
a defending player last touches the ball before it goes over the dead-ball
line or into touch-in-goal
a defending player accidentally infringes in the in-goal area
a defending player touches down in the in-goal area.
a defending player in possession is tackled in the in-goal area.
a defending player kicks the ball into touch on the full from his own
in-goal area.
Kick Penalties
A player who kicks-off or drops-out shall be penalised if he:
Advances in front of the appropriate line before kicking the ball.
Kicks the ball on the full over the touch-line, touch-in-goal line, or over
the dead-ball-line.
Kicks the ball so that it fails to travel at least 10m forward in the field of
play.
Any other player shall be penalised if he:
Willfully touches the ball from a kickoff or dropout before it has travelled
10m forward in the field of play.
Runs in front of one of his own team who is kicking-off or dropping-out.
Approaches nearer than 10m to the line from which the kick is being taken
when an opponent is kicking-off or dropping-out.
Touch
The ball is in touch when it or a player in contact with it touches the touchline
or the ground beyond the touchline or any object on or outside the touchline
The ball is in touch if a player jumps from touch and while off the ground
touches the ball. The ball is not in touch if during flight it crosses the touchline
but is knocked back by a player who is off the ground after jumping from the
field-of-play .
If the ball is kicked by, or bounces off, a player and it goes into touch on the
full, a scrum is formed where contact with the ball was made.
40/20 Rule : A kick from general play from within a team's own 40 metre
zone, which finds touch inside their opponent's 20 metre zone, will result in the
kicker's team receiving the loose and feed at the ensuing scrum.
Touch-in-goal
The ball is in touch-in-goal when it or a player in contact with it touches the
touch-in-goal line, or any object on or outside the touch-in-goal lines. When a
ball has entered touch or touch-in-goal, the point of entry shall be taken at the
point at which the ball first crossed the touch or touch-in-goal. Knock-on and
Forward Pass
A player will be penalised if he deliberately knocks-on or passes forward. Once a
knock-on occurs a scum shall be formed. To charge-down a kick is permissible
and is not a knock-on.
In all aspects of play, a player who does not deliberately play at the ball (eg
ricochet or rebound) will not be disadvantaged by the restart of play.
The Tackle
A player in possession may be tackled by an opposing player or players. It is
illegal to tackle or obstruct a player who is not in possession. Once a player in
possession has been tackled it is illegal for any player to move or try to move
him from the point where the tackle is effected.
A player in possession shall not deliberately and unnecessarily allow himself to
be tackled by voluntarily falling to the ground when not held by an opponent. If
a tackled player, because of his momentum, slides along the ground, the tackle
is deemed to have been effected where the slide ends.
If any doubt arises as to a tackle, the referee should give a verbal instruction
to "play-on" or shout "held" as the case may be. If there is more than one
tackler, the ball can not be intentionally stolen. In one-on-one tackles, the ball
may be stolen.
A zero tackle will be awarded only when possession changes after a breach
(eg. knock-on, forward pass). There will be no zero tackle from a kick in
general play.
Mid-Air Tackles - A player who is in mid-air while fielding a kick cannot be
tackled until he is on the ground.
The Play-the-Ball
A team in possession shall be allowed five successive "play-the-balls"; but if
tackled a sixth time, there is a hand over. If there is an infringement on the
sixth tackle then there is also a handover.
The tackled player shall be immediately released and shall not be touched until
the ball is in play. The tackled player shall without delay regain his feet where
he was tackled, lift the ball clear of the ground, face his opponents' goal-line
and drop or place the ball on the ground in front of his foremost foot.
A dummy-half stands directly behind his own player taking part in the
play-the-ball. The ball must always be played backwards. The marker can not
strike for the ball. The defensive side can move forward when ball hits ground
rather than when it clears the ruck.
The Scrum
A scrum is formed to restart the game whenever play is not being restarted with
a kickoff, a drop- out, a penalty kick or a play-the-ball.
To form a scrum not more than three forwards of either side shall interlock
heads and arms and create a clear tunnel at right-angles to the touchline Not
more than two second-row forwards on each team shall pack behind their
respective front-rows by interlocking arms and placing their heads in the two
spaces between the hooker and the front-row forwards. The loose(lock)
forward of each side shall pack behind his second-row forwards by placing his
head in the space between them.
It is permissible for the forwards to push once the scrum has been correctly
formed, but if it moves an appreciable distance to the disadvantage of any one
team before the ball has been put in, then the referee shall order the scrum to
re-form in its original position.
At the scrum the non-offending team shall have the loose head and the put-in.
The ball shall be put into the scrum from the referee's side It must be put in the
centre of the tunnel formed by opposing front-row forwards. The ball shall not
be put in until the scrum has been correctly formed.
When the ball is in the scrum it can only be played with the foot. All scrums will
be packed no closer than 20 metres to the touch line.
Off-side
A player is offside except when he is in his own in-goal if the ball is kicked,
touched or held by one of his own team behind him.
An offside player shall not take any part in the game or attempt in any way to
influence the course of the game. He shall not encroach within 10m of an
opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall immediately retire 10m from any
opponent who secures possession of the ball.
An offside player is placed on-side if:
An opponent moves 10m or more with the ball.
An opponent touches the ball without retaining it.
One of his own side kicks or knocks the ball forward and takes up a
position in front of him in the field-of-play.
He retires behind the point where the ball was last touched by one of his
own team.
Downtown - Players who are in front of the kicker, can not advance past the
point of the previous play-the-ball until the ball has passed the offside players.
Opposing players shall retire 10m from the 22m line and shall not advance until
the ball has been kicked. Defending players shall not advance in front of the ball
before it is kicked. Any deliberate offence by either team shall incur a penalty to
be awarded at the centre of the 22m line.
Misconduct
A player is guilty of misconduct if he:
Deliberately trips, kicks or strikes another player.
Attacks the head of an opponent when effecting a tackle.
Drops knees first on to an opponent who is on the ground.
Uses any dangerous tactics when effecting a tackle.
Deliberately breaks the laws of the game.
Uses foul or obscene language.
Disputes a decision of the referee or touch-judge.
Behaves in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game.
Deliberately obstructs an opponent who is not in possession.
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