LAW 24. OFF-SIDE

Off-side means that a player is in a position in which he is out of the game and is liable to penalty.
In general play the player is in an off-side position because he is in front of the ball when it has been last played by another player of his team.
In play at scrummage, ruck, maul or line-out the player is offside because he remains or advances in front of the line or place stated in, or otherwise infringes, the relevant sections of this Law.

A. Off-Side in General Play

(1)

A player is in an off-side position if the ball has been

kicked, or
touched, or
is being carried

by one of his team behind him.

(2)

There is no penalty for being in an off-side position unless:-

(a): the player plays the ball or obstructs an opponent, or
(b): he being within ten meters of an opponent waiting to play the ball or of the place where the ball pitches does not retire without delay and without interfering with the opponent, or
(c): he, on all other occasions, moves towards the opponents waiting to play the ball or to the place where the ball pitches, before he is put on-side.

Exceptions:-

(i): When an off-side player cannot avoid being touched by the ball or by a player carrying it, he is "accidentally offside". Play should be allowed to continue unless the infringing team obtains an advantage, in which case a scrummage shall be formed at that place.
(ii): A player who receives an unintentional throw-forward is not off-side.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick at the place of infringement, or, at the option of the non-offending team, a scrummage at the place where the ball was last played by the offending team. If the latter place is in In-goal, the penalty kick shall be taken or the scrummage shall be formed five meters from the goal line, on a line through the place. For an infringement of (2)(c) by more than one player, the place of infringement will be that of the off-side player closest to the player waiting for the ball or where the ball pitches.

Notes:-

(i)
A penalty for off-side should not be given at once if the non-offending team gains an advantage or if it appears likely to gain an advantage; but if the expected advantage is not gained, the penalty should in all cases be awarded even if it is necessary to bring play back for that purpose to the place of infringement.

(ii)
When a player knocks on and an offside player of the same team next plays the ball, a penalty for off-side should not be awarded unless the off-side deprives the non-offending team of an advantage.

(iii)
A player can be off-side in his In-goal.

(iv)
If a player hands the ball to another player of his team in front of him, the second player is offside. A scrummage for "accidental off-side" should be awarded unless it is considered the player was willfully offside in which case a penalty kick should be awarded.

(v)
The referee should whistle at once if an off-side player who cannot be placed on-side charges within ten meters of an opponent waiting to receive the ball. Delay may prove dangerous to the latter player.
Where there is no opponent waiting to play the ball but one arrives as the ball pitches, an offside player who is near such opponent must not obstruct or interfere with him in any way whatsoever before he is put on-side.

(vi)
If an attacking player kicks the ball which is mis-fielded by an opponent and the ball is then played by another attacking player in an offside position within ten meters of the opponent, a penalty kick should be awarded.

(vii)
If an attacking player kicks the ball which is charged down by an opponent and another attacking player within ten meters of the opponent then plays the ball, play should be allowed to continue. The opponent was not "waiting to play the ball" and the second attacking player is therefore on-side under Law 25(2).

(viii)
Law 24A(2)(b) and (c) also apply where the ball has struck a goal-post or cross-bar. Off-side players must not approach or remain within ten meters of an opponent waiting to play the ball or the place where the ball pitches.

B. Off-Side at Scrummage

The term "off-side line" means a line parallel to the goal lines through the hindmost foot of the player's team in the scrummage.

While a scrummage is forming or is taking place:-

(1)

A player is off-side if

(a)

he joins it from his opponents' side, or

(b)

he, not being in the scrummage nor the player of either team who puts the ball in the scrummage,

fails to retire behind the off-side line or to his goal line whichever is the nearer, or
places either foot in front of the offside line while the ball is in the scrummage.

A player may leave a scrummage provided he retires immediately behind the off-side line.

If he wishes to rejoin the scrummage, he must do so behind the ball.

He may not play the ball as it emerges between the feet of his front row if he is in front of the off-side line.

Exception:-: The restrictions on leaving the scrummage in front of the off-side line do not apply to a player taking part in "wheeling" a scrummage providing he immediately plays the ball.

Notes:-
(ix)
Players must retire without delay to the scrummage off-side line when a Law 24 scrummage is forming. Loiterers must be penalized.

(2)

A player is offside if he, being the player of either team who puts the ball in the scrummage, remains or places either foot in front of the ball while it is in the scrummage.

(3)

A player is offside if he, being the immediate opponent of the player putting in the ball, takes up a position on or moves to the opposite side of the scrummage in front of the offside line.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick at the place of infringement.

U.S.A.R.F.U. Directive
No matter which team has put the ball into the scrummage, the scrum-half of the team that does not have possession of the ball in the scrummage may not advance, on the side of the scrummage opposite to where the ball was put in, in front of the hindmost foot of his player in the scrummage.
Note:-
(x)
Any player of either team may at a particular scrummage be the player who puts in the ball or who takes up position as scrum-half when his opponent is putting in the ball; but such player is at that scrummage the only player of his team who has the benefit of Law 24B(2).

C. Off-side at Ruck or Maul

The term "off-side line" means a line parallel to the goal-lines through the hindmost foot of the player's team in the ruck or maul.

(1) Ruck or Maul otherwise than at line-out

While a ruck or maul is taking place (including a ruck or maul which continues after a line-out has ended) a player is off-side if he:-

(a): joins it from his opponents' side, or
(b): joins it in front of the hindmost player of his team, or,
(c): does not join the ruck or maul but fails to retire behind the off-side line without delay, or
(d): unbinds from the ruck or leaves the maul and does not immediately retire behind the off-side line or once he is on side, if he rejoins the ruck or maul in front of the hindmost player of his team, or
(e): advances beyond the off-side line with either foot and does not join the ruck or maul.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick at the place of infringement.

I.R.F.B. Ruling
Whilst a ruck or maul is in progress:

(a)
A player not in the ruck or maul must retire without delay and must remain behind the off-side line.

(b)
A player who unbinds from the ruck or leaves the maul must immediately retreat behind the off-side line and may not rejoin the ruck or maul until he has done so.

(c)
An on-side player may join or rejoin the ruck or maul, but must do so from behind the off-side line and join on to the hindmost person(s). He may join alongside, but not in front of the hindmost player(s).

(2) Ruck or Maul at Line-out

The term "participating in the line-out" has the same meaning as in Section D of this Law. A player participating in the line-out is not obliged to join or remain in the ruck or maul and if he is not in the ruck or maul he continues to participate in the line-out until it has ended.

While a line-out is in progress and a ruck or maul takes place, a player is off-side if he:

(a)

joins the ruck or maul from his opponent's side, or

(b)

joins it in front of the hindmost player of his team, or

(c)

being a player who is participating in the lineout and is not in the ruck or maul, does not retire to and remain at the off-side line defined in this Section, or

Penalty:-: Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touchline along the line-of-touch.

(d)

being a player who is not participating in the line-out, remains or advances with either foot in front of the off-side line defined in Section D of this Law.

Penalty:-: Penalty kick on the offending team's off-side line opposite the place of infringement, but not less than fifteen meters from the touch line.

Note:-
(xi)
When the line-out has ended but the ruck or maul is still taking place, a player is off-side if he infringes Section (1) of these Laws.

D. Off-side at Line-out

The term "participating in the line-out" refers exclusively to the following players:-

those players who are in the line-out, and
the player who throws in the ball, and
his immediate opponent who may have the option of throwing in the ball, and
one other player of either team who takes up position to receive the ball if it is passed or knocked back from the line-out.
All other players are not participating in the line-out.
The term "off-side line" means a line ten meters behind the line-of-touch and parallel to the goal lines or, if the goal line be nearer than ten meters to the line-of-touch, the "offside line" is the goal line.

Off-side while participating in line-out

(1)

A participating player is off-side if:-

(a)

before the ball has touched a player or the ground he willfully remains or advances with either foot in front of the line-of-touch, unless he advances while jumping for the ball, provided that the jump is made from his side of the line-of-touch, or

(b)

after the ball has touched a player or the ground, if he is not carrying the ball, he advances with either foot in front of the ball, unless he is lawfully tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent who is participating in the line-out. Such tackle or attempt to tackle must, however, start from his side of the ball, or

(c)

before the line-out ends he moves beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line.

Exception:-: Players of the team throwing in the ball may move beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line for a long throw-in to them. They may do so only when the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing it in and if they do so their opponents participating in the line-out may follow them. If players so move and the ball is not thrown to or beyond them they must be penalized for off-side.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touch line along the line-of-touch.
Notes:-
(xii)
Players who advance beyond the off-side line or who move beyond a position fifteen meters from the touch line in the expectation of a long throw-in must be penalized if for any reason, the ball is not thrown beyond that position.

(xiii)
A player jumping unsuccessfully for the ball who crosses the line-of-touch should be given an opportunity to retire before being penalized.

(xiv)
The referee should be strict in dealing with those players who, while not disputing possession of the ball in the line-out, advance to an offside position whether intentionally or not.

(2)

The player throwing in the ball and his immediate opponent must:-

(a): remain within five meters of the touch line, or
(b): retire to the off-side line, or
(c): join the line-out after the ball has been thrown in five meters, or
(d): move into position to receive the ball if it is passed or knocked back from the lineout provided no other player is occupying that position at that line-out.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touch line along the line of touch.
Note:-
(xv)
If a player other than the wing-threequarter throws in the ball from touch, the wing-threequarter must retire to the off-side line, or join the line-out.

Off-side while not participating in line-out

(3): A player who is not participating is off-side if before the line-out has ended he advances or remains with either foot in front of the offside line.

Exception:-
Players of the team throwing in the ball who are not participating in the line-out may advance for a long throw-in to them beyond the line-out. They may do so only when the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing in the ball and, if they do, their opponents may advance to meet them. If players so advance for a long throw-in to them and the ball is not thrown to them they must be penalized for offside.

Note:-
(xvi)
If a player not participating in the lineout is offside, the referee should not whistle immediately if the opposing team is likely to gain an advantage. He should apply the advantage law in all such cases.

Players returning to "on-side" position

(4): A player is not obliged, before throwing in the ball, to wait until players of his team have returned to or behind the line-out but such players are off-side unless they return to an on-side position without delay.

Penalty:-
Penalty kick on the offending team's offside line (as defined in Section D of this Law) opposite the place of infringement but not less than fifteen meters from the touch line.

Note:-

(xvii)
Laws 24B, C, and D -- Offside at Scrummage, Ruck, Maul and Line-out -- Where these Laws state a line which determines the off-side position such line stretches continuously from touch line to touch line.

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