LAW 23. TOUCH AND LINE-OUT

(1)

The ball is in touch

• when it is not being carried by a player and it touches a touch line or the ground or a person or object on or beyond it, or

• when it is being carried by a player and it or the player carrying it touches a touch line or the ground beyond it.

(2)

If the ball is not in touch and has not crossed the plane of the touch line, a player who is in touch may kick the ball or propel it with his hand but not hold it.

(3)

The ball is deemed to have been kicked directly into touch if, from a kick, it is in touch without having pitched on the playing area or without having touched or been touched in flight by a player or the referee.

Notes:-

(i)

(a)

If the ball is kicked directly into touch from a kick-off and the opposing team elects to accept the kick, the line-out shall be formed

(i)

at the half-way line, or

(ii)

where the ball went into touch if that place be nearer to the kicker's goal line.

(b)

If the ball is kicked directly into touch from a drop-out and the opposing team elects to accept the kick, the line-out shall be formed where the ball went into touch.

(ii)

On or beyond the touch-line or touch-in-goal line refers to all areas except the playing area.

(iii)

It is not touch or touch-in-goal when a player with both feet in the playing area catches the ball, even though the ball before being caught has crossed the touch-line or touch-in-goal line. Such a player may deflect or tap the ball into the playing area provided it is not propelled forward. If a player jumps and catches the ball his feet must land in the playing area.

(1)

A line-out is formed by at least two players from each team lining up in single lines parallel to the line-of-touch in readiness for the ball to be thrown in between them. The team throwing in the ball shall determine the maximum number of players from either team who so line up. Such players are those "in the line-out" unless excluded below.

Note:-

(iv)

Prior to the beginning of the line-out, a free kick should be awarded for offenses in forming the line-out including willfully failing to form a line-out or to line up at least two players.

(2)

Each team must line up at least half a meter on its side of the line-of-touch, so as to leave a clear space of one meter between the two lines of players.

Note:-

(v)

The distance of one meter for the clear space is between the shoulders of the players when standing upright.

(3)

The line-out stretches from five meters from the touch line from which the ball is being thrown in to a position fifteen meters from that touch line.

(4)

Any player of either team who is further than fifteen meters from the touch line when the line-out begins is not in the line-out.

Note:-

(vi)

If, at a formed line-out, the team throwing in the ball line up less than the normal number, their opponents must be given a reasonable opportunity to conform. Opposing players who are retiring for that purpose must do so directly and without delay to a line ten meters behind the line-of-touch. Loiterers must be penalized. Subject to this, when the line-out is ended players so retiring may rejoin play, even if they have not reached the ten meters line.

(5)

When the ball is in touch the place at which it must be thrown in is as follows:-

(a)

When the ball goes into touch from a penalty kick; or from a kick including a free kick awarded within twenty-two meters of the kicker's goal line, at the place where it touched or crossed the touch line, except as otherwise provided.

(b)

When the kicker has received the ball outside his 22 meter line and retreated behind that line before kicking, and on all other occasions when the ball is kicked directly into touch, after having been kicked otherwise than as stated in (a) opposite the place from which the ball was kicked or at the place where it touched or crossed the touch-line if that place be nearer to the kicker's goal-line.

I.R.F.B. Ruling

In reference to (5)(b), if a player has received the ball outside his 22 meter line then throws, knocks or kicks the ball back over that line, retreives it himself and then kicks for touch, his team cannot gain ground if the ball pitches directly into touch.

(c)

When a quick throw-in is taken, from any point along the touch-line between where the ball went into touch and the goal-line of the team throwing in the ball.

(d)

Otherwise when the ball is in touch, at the place where the ball touched or crossed the touch-line.

(6)

(a)

When kicked into touch from a penalty kick, the ball will be thrown in at the line-out by the team which kicked the ball into touch.

I.R.F.B. Clarification, through the R.F.U.

When a penalty kick goes into touch, providing it does not touch another player the subsequent throw-in is given to the kicking side regardless of whether the ball bounced in the field of play.

(b)

Otherwise the ball is to be thrown in by an opponent of the player whom it last touched, or by whom it was carried before being in touch.

(c)

In the event of doubt as to which team should throw in the ball, the attacking team shall do so.

(7)

The ball may be brought into play at a formed line-out or by a quick throw-in which can only take place before the line-out has formed.

If a quick thrown-in occurs after the line-out has formed, it is void and the ball is brought into play at the formed line-out by the same team.

(8)

At a formed line-out the player throwing in the ball must:

• not put any part of either foot in the field of play.

• throw the ball in at the place indicated in (5) so that it first touches the ground or touches or is touched by a player at least five meters from the touch-line along the line-of-touch; otherwise the opposing team shall have the right, at its option, to throw in the ball or to take a scrummage fifteen metres from the touchline.

(9)

(a)

At a quick throw-in, the ball that went into touch must be used and, after going into touch, it must have been touched only by the player throwing it in; otherwise the ball shall be thrown in at the place indicated in (5) by the same team.

(b)

At a quick throw-in the throw must be straight along the line-of-touch for a distance of not less than five meters; otherwise the opposing team shall have the right, at its option, to take a scrummage fifteen metres from the touch-line at the place where the quick throw-in occurred.

(c)

At a quick throw-in a player must not prevent the ball from being thrown five metres.

(10)

If, on the second occasion, the ball is not thrown in correctly, a scrummage shall be formed and the ball shall be put in by the team which threw it in on the first occasion.

Note:-

(vii)

If a player willfully or repeatedly throws the ball in not straight a penalty kick should be awarded. If at a formed line-out a player delays or feints to throw the ball in, a free kick should be awarded.

(11)

The line-out begins when the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing it in.

(12)

The line-out ends when

• a ruck or maul is taking place and all feet of players in the ruck or maul have moved beyond the line-of-touch, or
• a player carrying the ball leaves the lineout, or
• the ball has been passed, knocked back or kicked from the line-out, or
• the ball is thrown beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch-line, or
• the ball becomes unplayable.

Notes:-

(viii)

If a player participating in a line-out hands the ball to another player who is peeling off from the line-out, the line-out ends when the second player takes the ball.

(ix)

When the ball has been passed or knocked back from a line-out, the lineout is ended. Players in front of a player of their own team who receives the ball from the line-out may be offside but they should only be penalized under Law 24 A if they play the ball or obstruct an opponent in any way.

(x)

A ruck or maul has not moved from the line-of-touch unless all the feet of the players in the ruck or maul have moved beyond that line.

(13)

When the ball is in touch players who approach the line-of-touch must always be presumed to do so for the purpose of forming a line-out. Except in a peeling off movement such players must not leave the line-of-touch, or the line-out when formed, until the line-out has ended. A player must not begin to peel off until the ball has left the hands of the player throwing it in.

Exception:-

At a quick throw-in, when a player may come to the line-of-touch and retire from that position without penalty.

(14)

In a peeling off movement a player must move parallel and close to the line-out.

(15)

Before the ball has been thrown in and has touched the ground or has touched or been touched by a player, any player in the line-out must not

(a)

be off-side, or

(b)

use an opponent as a support to enable him to jump for the ball or push, charge, shoulder or obstruct an opponent

(c)

use any player of his team as a support to enable him to jump for the ball or lift any player of his team or bind with any player of his team, or

(d)

stand within five meters of the touch line or prevent the ball from being thrown five meters.

Notes:-

(xi)

Law 23B(8) is not an alternative to Law 23B(l5)(d). The first is an obligation on the thrower, the second is an obligation on the receiver. If a player prevents the ball from reaching five meters it must always be penalized by a free kick.

(xii)

Any movement of a player beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line must be solely for the purpose of catching or jumping to catch the ball. The player may move in-field in an attempt to catch the ball only after it leaves the hand of the player throwing it in.

(xiii)

A player acting as scrum-half may not stand or move beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line unless he moves to anticipate a long throw-in but he may so move only in accordance with the conditions in the preceding note (xii).

(E.V.)(l6)

When jumping for the ball a player must use both hands or his inside arm to catch or deflect the ball.

(17)

After the ball has touched the ground or touched or been touched by a player, any player in the line-out must not

(a)

be off-side, or

(b)

hold, push, shoulder or obstruct an opponent not holding the ball, or

(c)

charge an opponent except in an attempt to tackle him or to play the ball.

(18)

Except when jumping for the ball or peeling off, a clear space of one meter must be left between the two lines of players until the ball has touched or has been touched by a player or has touched the ground.

Note:-

(xiv)

The act of jumping for the ball may include a step or steps in any direction provided it takes the jumper up to but not across the line-of-touch.

(19)

A player in the line-out may move into the space between the touch line and the five meters mark only when the ball has been thrown beyond him and, if he does so, he must not move towards his goal line before the line-out ends, except in a peeling off movement.

(20)

Until the line-out ends, no player may move beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line except as allowed when the ball is thrown beyond that position, in accordance with the Exception following Law 24D(1)(c).

Note:-

(xv)

If the ball in a line-out becomes unplayable, otherwise than as a result of an infringement for which a penalty is prescribed, a scrummage should be ordered.

(21)

A player participating in the line-out as defined in Law 24D may run into a gap in the line-out and take the ball provided he does not charge or obstruct an opponent in the line-out.