LAW 17. KNOCK-ON OR THROW-FORWARD

A knock-on occurs when the ball travels forward towards the direction of the opponents' dead-ball line after:- A throw-forward occurs when a player carrying the ball throws or passes it in the direction of his opponents' dead-ball line. A throw-in from touch is not a throw-forward. If the ball is not thrown or passed forward but it bounces forward after hitting a player or the ground, it is not a throw-forward.

Note:-
(i)
A pass, throw or knock-on should not be adjudged an infringement unless it is clearly so under the Law. If there is any doubt, play should be allowed to proceed.
(1)
The knock-on or throw-forward must not be intentional.

Penalty:- Free kick at the place of infringement or in accord with Law 14 Penalty (e). A penalty try may be awarded.

(2)
If the knock-on or throw-forward is unintentional, a scrummage shall be formed either at the place of infringement or, if it occurs at a line-out, fifteen meters from the touch line along the line-of-touch unless:-

  • the ball is knocked on by a player who is in the act of charging down the kick of an opponent but is not attempting to catch the ball, or

  • the ball is knocked on one or more times by a player who is in the act of catching or picking it up or losing possession of it and is recovered by that player before it has touched the ground or another player.

U.S.A.R.F.U. Directive

To be "recovered" the ball must be caught by the player who knocked it on. If the ball is kicked by a player after he has unintentionally knocked-on but before it has touched the ground or another player, the player has not "recovered" the ball and a scrummage shall be formed at the place of infringement.

Note:-
(ii)
If an attacking player knocks-on or throws-forward in the field-of-play and the ball travels into In-goal, either directly or after having touched a defender who does not willfully attempt to stop, catch or kick it, and it is there
(a)
grounded by a player of either team or

(b)
goes into touch-in-goal or over the dead-ball line,

a scrummage should be awarded at the place of the knock-on or throw-forward.
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