Laws & Rules

Starting the Game

The team that wins the coin toss has the choice of which end of the pitch to defend. The losers then ’kick-off’ from the half-way line. The ball must travel at least 10 metres and bounce in the field of play. If it doesn’t do this the team kicking off will be penalised. Also when a team concedes a score it has to restart with same type of kick from the half-way line.

Play-the-Ball

Every time a player is tackled, all defenders, apart from a maximum of two markers, have to retreat 10 metres from the play-the-ball area. This will be marked by the referee (in other words the defending side retire back to the referee). The defending side may advance when the ball is rolled back by the foot. If they move forward early, or don’t retire far enough back, it’s a penalty.

Six Tackles

A tackle is completed when the ball or the ball-carrying arm of the player has touched the ground and a tackler is touching him. After six tackles the ball must be handed over.

Offside

If a player is in front of a teammate who kicks the ball forward, he is offside. He’s back onside if the receiver who gets the ball runs 10 metres, or fumbles the ball, or the kicker overtakes him.

Foul Play

High tackles (contact above the shoulders) are not allowed, and incur a penalty (a kick for goal, a kick to touch followed by a fresh ’set of six’ tackles, or - if the team wishes, just a ’set of six’ tackles). Stealing the ball from a player when there is more than one player involved in the tackle, or impeding a man when he hasn’t got the ball is also illegal.

40/20 Rule

If a player standing no more than 40 metres away from his own try line manages to a kick a ball in general play which bounces in the field of play then goes into touch inside his opponents, 20-metre area, his side gets the head and feed at the scrum, almost certainly giving them possession again and six more tackles in an attacking position.

For a detailed look at the Laws of the Game, click on the attachments below