Chapter 11
The Laws of the Game
the laws of the game
of Rugby League Football
as played in Australia
SECTION 1
THE FIELD OF PLAY
1. The field of play shall be rectangular and shall be marked out
in accordance with the plan, the definitions, markings and dimensions of
which shall be hereby included in the Laws of the Game.
2. The lines marking the field of play shall be distinctive
and shall not be made with saw-dust or by cutting ruts in the turf.
3. The touch lines shall be outside the field of play and the
touch-in-goal lines and dead-ball lines shall be outside the in-goal areas.
4. The goal lines shall be within the in-goal areas.
5. A post not less than four feet high and which may bear a
flag may be placed at each intersection of the goal lines and the touch
lines. Such posts shall be in touch-in-goal.
6. The goal posts shall be placed on the centre of the goal
lines and each shall consist of two upright posts not less than eleven
feet in height placed eighteen feet six inches apart and joined by a cross-bar
placed ten feet form the ground. The cross-bar shall not extend beyond
the goal posts.
SECTION 2
THE BALL
1. The game shall be played with an oval ball the outer casing of
which shall be of leather and no material shall be used in its construction
which might prove dangerous to the players.
| 2. |
Desired
dimensions |
Permissible
minimum |
Permissible
maximum |
Length
Longest circumference
Widest
Weight (clean and dry) |
11 in.
29 in.
23¼ in.
14½ oz. |
10¾ in.
28¾ in.
23 in.
13½ oz. |
11½ in.
29¾ in.
24 in.
15½ oz. |
SECTION 3
THE PLAYERS
1. The game shall be played by two teams each consisting of not
more than thirteen players.
2. The replacement of players shall be permitted (a) if the
player to be replaced has been injured; (b) the replacement is made up
to and including half-time; (c) the referee is notified of any such replacement
prior to the commencement of the second half; (d) replacements are limited
to two players for any one side.
3. the players who normally bind together to form a scrum shall
be called forwards and the other players shall be called backs.
SECTION 4
PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
1. A player shall not wear anything which might prove dangerous
to other players.
2. The referee shall order a player to remove any part of his
equipment which might be considered dangerous and shall not allow the player
to take any further part in the game until his order is obeyed.
3. Boots shall have no projecting nails or metal plates. Metal
studs shall be permitted provided that the extremities are rounded off.
4. The colours of the jerseys worn by competing teams shall
be easily distinguishable and if, in the opinion of the referee similarity
between the colours might affect the proper conduct of the game, he may,
at his discretion order either team to change jerseys in accordance with
the Rules governing the Competition in which the game is played.
SECTION 5
MODE OF PLAY
1. When once the ball has been kicked off and is in play it can
be kicked or handled by any player who is on-side except that it cannot
be handled in a scrum of when it is dropped to the ground after a player
has been tackled.
2. The ball may be kicked or it may be thrown or knocked from
one player to another provided it be not thrown or knocked forward.
3. The object of the game shall be to ground the ball in the
opponent' in-goal area to score tries or to kick the ball over the opponents'
cross-bar to score goals.
SECTION 6
METHOD OF SCORING
1. The object of the fame is to score tries and kick goals.
2. Three points shall be awarded to a side for each try scored
and two points for each goal scored. The game shall be won by the
side scoring the greater number of points. If both sides score the
same number of points or both sides fail to score then the game shall be
drawn.
3. A try shall be scored by a player who first touches the ball
with hand or arm when it is in contact with the ground in his opponents'
in-goal provided that no part of the player is in touch, touch-in-goal,
or on or over the dead ball line and provided that the ball, immediately
prior to being grounded, is in play.
4. If a ball not in possession of a player of either side is
touched down simultaneously by players of both sides, a try shall be awarded.
5. The referee shall award a try, if, in his opinion, one would
undoubtedly have been scored but for unfair play by the defending side
or encroachment of spectators. The kick at goal from such a try shall be
taken at any point on the line parallel to the touch line passing through
the point where the ball was when such unfair play or encroachment took
place.
6. If a player carrying the ball touches the referee, a touch
judge, an encroaching spectator or any object, which in the opinion of
the referee irregularly affects the run of play in his opponents' in-goal
area a try shall be awarded where contact was made.
7. A goal shall be scored by a player when the whole of the ball
during flight passes over the opponents' cross-bar between the uprights
in a direction towards the opponents' dead-ball line after being kicked
by the player in any one of the following circumstances:
| (a) |
From a penalty kick (1) by placing the ball on the ground and kicking
it or (2) by dropping the ball from the hands and kicking it as it rebounds
from the ground (i.e., a drop kick). |
| (b) |
From a drop kick during play, and |
| (c) |
After a try has been scored by the player's side by placing the ball
on the ground in the field of play at any point on the line drawn parallel
to the touch line and through the point at which the try was scored, and
kicking it. |
SECTION 7
START OF PLAY: THE KICK OFF; THE DROP-OUT
1. The captains of the two teams shall meet in the presence of the
referee. One captain shall toss a coin and the other shall call.
The captain winning the toss may choose wither to kick off or which in-goal
his team shall first defend.
| 2. (a) |
The ball is placed on the ground at the mid-point of the halfway line
and is kicked off to start each half o the game or to re-start the game
after points have been scored. |
| (b) |
The game is re-started with a drop kick by a defending player from
the mid-point of his own 25-yard line
(i) if an attacking player last touches the ball before
it goes out of play over the dead ball line or into touch in goal;
(ii) if an attacking player is tackling in his opponents'
in-goal without touching down for a try. |
| (c) |
The game is re-started with a drop kick by a defending player from
the mid-point of his own goal-line
(i) if a defending player last touches the ball before
it goes out of play over the dead-ball line or into touch-in goal or into
touch on the full;
(ii) if a defending player touches down in his own in-goal
from the in-goal area;
(iii) if a defending player is tackled in his own in-goal. |
| (d) |
When the ball is being kicked off or dropped out it shall be illegal
(i) for offside players (see Section 17, Para.1) to interfere
with play
(ii) for the kicker to kick the ball less than ten yards
forward or to kick it over the touch line or dead ball line on the full. |
| (e) |
If following a kick-off or drop-out a penalty is awarded the mark is
where the offence occurred except when within ten yards of either goal
line in which case it will be brought back ten yards from the goal line. |
DURATION OF GAME
1. The game shall be of eighty minutes' duration and both
teams shall defend each in-goal for equal periods. After forty minutes
of play there shall be an interval which shall not exceed five minutes
except by permission of the referee.
2. When time expires in either half the referee
shall immediately blow his whistle to terminate the half if the ball is
out of play or a player is tackled when holding the ball. If the
ball is in play he shall blow his whistle to terminate the half when next
the ball goes out of play or when next a player in possession of the ball
is tackled.
3. If a try has been scored or a penalty has been
awarded time shall be extended to allow the kick to be taken.
4. The referee or timekeepers shall extend time
in each half to allow for time wasted, lost through accident or other cause.
SECTION 9
DUTIES OF THE REFEREE AND TOUCH JUDGES
1. In all matches a referee and two touch judges shall
be appointed.
2. It shall be the duty of the referee to enforce
the Laws of the Game and judge on all matters of fact except those relating
to touch and touch-in-goal (see Para.12 et seq.,
Section 9).
3. He shall keep a record of the tries and goals
scored during the game.
4. He shall be the sole timekeeper and shall have
power to allow extra time for delays unless such powers have been delegated
to official timekeepers appointed by the organization under whose jurisdiction
the game is being played.
5. He shall, at his discretion, suspend or terminate
the game whenever by reason of climatic conditions, interference by spectators,
or other causes, he may deem necessary. In all cases in which a game is
so terminated he shall submit a report to the League or other body under
whose jurisdiction the game is played.
6. He shall, in the event of misbehaviour on the
part of a player, caution the offender and if the offence is repeated or
in the case of violent conduct without previous caution, he shall be empowered
to order the offending player off the field of play, and shall within 24
hours post the name of such player together with the nature of his offence
to the appropriate League or Committee and a copy of the same to the player's
club.
7. He shall caution a player who persistently and
wilfully breaks the Laws of the Game and if the offence is repeated, shall,
if the thinks fit, dismiss the offending player from the field. A
player dismissed from the field shall be allowed to take not further part
in the game. The power of the referee extends to offences committed when
play has been temporarily suspended.
8. The referee shall carry a whistle, the blowing of which
shall stop the game.
The whistle shall be blown in the following cases:
| (a) |
When an infringement occurs
(i) at the scrum;
(ii) other than at the scrum except where the non-offending
side gains an advantage; |
| (b) |
when a player makes and claims a fair catch; |
| (c) |
when foul play or misconduct occurs. If the non-offending side gain
advantage play shall be allowed to proceed and disciplinary action against
the offender can be taken when play is next stopped; |
| (d) |
when the continuation of play is dangerous; |
| (e) |
when he allows a decision given by a touch judge; |
| (f) |
when the ball or the player carrying the ball touches the referee,
touch judge or an encroaching spectator. |
| (g) |
to terminate each half of the game (see Section 8, Paras. 2-4) |
| (h) |
when the referee is of the opinion that the size and shape of the ball
no longer comply with the Laws of the Game; |
| (i) |
when the referee wishes to stop the game for any purpose; |
| (j) |
if any irregularity not provided for in the Laws occurs during play
and the offending side gain an advantage. |
9. When a referee penalizes a player he shall state
his reason for doing so.
10. When doubt exists as to a tackle the referee shall
indicate his decision by giving verbal instructions to "play on" or "play
the ball"/
11. The referee having given a decision on any point,
other than touch and touch-in-goal play, cannot under any circumstances
alter it.
12. The referee shall accept the decisions of a neutral
touch judge relating to touch and touch-in-goal play except where an incident
occurs during play on which the referee has to give a prior decision.
13. There shall be one touch judge near each touch line
outside the field of play.
14. It shall be the duty of a touch judge to decide when
and where the ball goes into touch or touch-in-goal and to report
to the referee any foul play or obstructions which may have escaped his
notice.
15. Each touch judge shall carry a flag the longest sides
ow which shall be equal and not less than 12in. in length. The short
side shall be not less than 9in. in length and shall be attached to a stick
the minimum length of which shall be 18in.
16. When the ball goes into touch the touch judge shall
immediately raise his flag above his head and stand with flag uplifted
at the point where it entered touch until the game is restarted except
when a player during play kicks the ball on the full into touch towards
his opponents' goal line in which case the touch judge shall indicate that
no ground is gained by waving his flag above his head, accentuating the
backward movement.
17. When the ball enters touch-in-goal the touch judge
shall run to the point of entry and wave his flag above his head.
18. The decision of a touch judge delegated by the referees
to judge a kick at goal shall be final except when an incident occurs on
which the referee has to give a prior decision.
19. In case of any undue interference or improper conduct
by a touch judge the referee shall report the circumstances to the
organization under the jurisdiction of which the match is being played.
20. If the ball or a player carrying the ball touches
the referee, a touch judge, an encroaching spectator or any object which
in the opinion of the referee irregularly effects the run of play a scrum
shall be awarded at the point of contact if in the field of play. If such
contact occurs in the in-goal area the ball shall be deemed to have been
grounded at the point of contact by a defending player, and a goal line
drop-out awarded, except when the ball is held by a player in his opponents'
in-goal area in which case a try shall be awarded at the point of contact
(see Section 6, Par. 7).
21. Play shall not be stopped for adjustment or replacement
of player's dress, other than for knickers.
22. In cases where circumstances in connection with a
match are likely ot be made the subject of official investigation the referee
and touch judges shall report to the investigating authority only and shall
refrain from expressing criticism or comment through other channels.
SECTION 10
KNOCK-ON AND THROW FORWARD
1. A player shall not deliberately knock or throw
the ball forward.
2. If the ball after touching the hand or arm of
a player drops to the ground in a forward direction or is propelled forward
and touches an upright or cross-bar, a scrum shall be formed where the
player last touched the ball (see Section 11, Para.4) providing that the
non-offending side gain no advantage.
3. A player shall be permitted to use his hands
or arms to charge down an opponent's kick.
SECTION 11
SCRUM
1. To form a scrum not more than three forwards of either
side shall interlock arms and heads and create a clear tunnel at right
angles to the touch line. No more than two second row forwards on each
side shall pack behind their respective front rows by interlocking arms
and placing their heads in the two spaces between the hooker and his prop
forwards. The loose forward of each side shall pack behind his second
row forwards by placing his head in between them.
2. No more than six players on each side shall assist
in the formation of a scrum and when the ball is in the scrum no more than
eight players on each side shall act as backs.
3. (a) A front row forward of the attacking side shall
have the loose head (the head of the forward nearest the referee) except
when a scrum is formed following a penalty kick to touch in which case
the kicker's side shall have the loose head.
(b) A player of the defending side shall
from the referee's side throw the ball with a downward motion or roll it
into the scrum except when a scrum is formed following a penalty kick to
touch in which case a player of the kicker's side shall put the ball into
the scrum.
(c) He shall without delay throw or
roll it onto the ground in the centre of the tunnel after which he shall
immediately retire behind his own pack of forwards.
(d) The hookers and the two front row
forwards nearest to the referee shall not advance their feet into the tunnel
until the ball enters the tunnel.
(e) The hookers may strike for the ball
after it hits the ground in the tunnel with the foot furthest from the
point of entry after which it may be played with the foot by any forward.
(f) A hooker shall not raise both feet
from the ground during a scrum.
(g) The outside front row forwards shall
keep their feet on the ground until the ball has first been played by either
hooker.
(h) A hooker shall not have one arm
loose during a scrum and shall pack with both arms over the shoulders of
the two supporting front row forwards.
(i) The ball should be in play after
being fairly thrown or rolled into the tunnel if it emerges between and
behind the inner feet of the second row forwards.
(j) No player shall wilfully prevent
the formation of a scrum.
(k) No player shall deliberately kneel
or fall down, or handle the ball in a scrum.
4. If a scrum is ordered it shall be formed at the place
of infringement except where stated otherwise and except where an infringement
occurs less than 10 yards from touch or not less than 5 yards from the
goal line, as the case may be.
5. A penalty shall be awarded against any player who is
guilty of a breach of the Laws governing the scrum.
SECTION 12
THE TACKLE AND PLAYING OF THE BALL AFTER A TACKLE
1. A player who during play is holding the ball may
be tackled by an opposing player in order to prevent him from running with
the ball or from kicking or passing it to one of his own side. A player
who is not holding the ball shall not be tackled or obstructed.
2. A player is tackled when he is held by one or
more opposing players in such a manner that he can make no further progress
and cannot part with the ball or when he is held by one or more opposing
players the ball comes into contact with the ground.
If the momentum of a tackled player carries him away from
the point where he was first fairly held or the ball was first grounded
the tackle shall be deemed to have been made at the point where the tackled
player's movement is stopped. REfer SEction 6. Para.3 referring to
scoring a try.
3. A player shall not take the ball from a tackled player.
If any doubt arises as to the tackle the referee shall
give verbal instructions to "play on" or "play the ball" as the case may
be.
4. After a tackle has been made the ball shall be
brought into play in the following manner:
(a) The players opposing the side of the tackled
player shall relinquish their hold on him and refrain from touching him
until the ball is in play.
(b) The tackled player shall immediately regain his feet
facing his opponent's goal line at the point where he was tackled.
He shall retain possession of the ball whilst rising and lift it from the
ground. Having regained his feet he shall, without delay, drop the ball
to the ground directly in front of him, after which it can be played with
the foot in any direction by any player.
(c) One opposing player may stand immediately opposite
the tackled player. A player of each side, to be known as the acting
half-back, may stand immediately behind his own player taking part in the
playing of the ball. All other players are on-side if they are more than
3 yards behind their own player who is taking part in the playing of the
ball. The distance of 3 yards shall be measured from the rear foot
of the player playing the ball to the foremost foot of any player on his
own side. Players must remain on-side until the ball is dropped to
the ground by the tackled player. An offside player shall be penalised
if he gains or attempts to gain an unfair advantage provided that such
penalty is not to the disadvantage to the non-offending side. Neither
the tackled player nor the player opposite him shall raise a foot from
the ground before the ball is dropped
If a tackled player when bringing the ball into play taps
it with his foot in order to regain possession of it himself and he is
subsequently tackled, the ball not having been touched by any other player,
then a scrum shall be formed where the tackle is made (see Section 11,
Para. 4).
If a tackled player heels the ball and it is gathered
by a colleague who retains possession of it and who is tackled, then a
scrum shall be formed where the tackle is made (see Section 11, Para. 4).
(d) If a player accidentally loses possession of the ball after
he has been tackled, a scrum shall be formed on the spot. If he deliberately
loses possession of the ball after being tackled a penalty shall be awarded
against him.
(e) A player shall not deliberately and unnecessarily
allow himself to be tackled by voluntarily falling to the ground with the
ball in his possession or by dropping on the ball and remaining on it when
he has time to regain his feet and continue play.
SECTION 13
TOUCH AND TOUCH-IN GOAL
1. The ball is in touch when it or a player in contact
with it touches the touch line or the ground or any object outside the
touch line except when a tackled player, regaining his feet to play the
ball, steps into touch in which case the player shall play the ball in
the field of play.
2. The ball is touch-in-goal when it or a player
in contact with it touches the touch-in-goal line or the ground or any
object outside the touch-in-goal lines.
3. When a ball has entered touch or touch-in-goal
the point of entry shall be taken as the point at which the ball first
crossed the touch or touch-in-goal lines.
4. If the ball enters touch the game shall be restarted
by forming a scrum 10 yards from touch and opposite the point of entry
(see Section 11, Para. 5) except when a player deliberately knocks or throws
the ball forward into touch (see SEction 10) and when a player kicks a
ball from the field of play towards his opponent's in-goal and it enters
touch without first bouncing in the field of play in which case a scrum
shall be formed where the ball was kicked (see Section 11, Para. 5).
SECTION 14
OFFSIDE
1. A player shall be offside if the ball is kicked,
touched or held by one of his own side behind him.
2. An offside player shall not (a) touch the ball,
(b) actively or passively obstruct an opponent , (c) encroach within 5
yards of an opponent who is waiting for the ball or (d) attempt in any
way to prevent an opponent from making a fair catch.
3. If a player is guilty of a deliberate breach of these
Laws the non-offending side shall have the option of taking a penalty kick
where such breach occurs or of forming a scrum where the ball was last
played by the offending side before the breach occurred (see Section 11,
Para.4).
4. In the case of unintentional offside a scrum shall
be formed where the infringement occurred (see Section 11, Para.4).
5. A player can be offside in his opponents' in-goal but
not in his own except from a free kick (see Section 16, Para.4).
6. An offside player who is within 5 yards of an
opponent who first catchers the ball after it has been played by one of
the of the offside player's side cannot be placed on-side unless he retires
a distance of 5 yards or more from such opponent. With this exception an
offside player can be placed on-side if
(a) an opponent runs 5 yards or more with the ball;
(b) an opponent touches the ball without retaining it
in his possession;
(c) one of his own side in possession of the ball runs
in front of him;
(d) one of his own side runs in front of him after having
kicked the ball forward provided that the kicker is within the field of
play when in front of the offside player.
SECTION 15
THE PENALTY KICK
1. A penalty kick shall be awarded against any player who
is guilty of a deliberate breach of the Laws provided that this shall not
be to the disadvantage of the non-offending side. The point at which
the penalty is awarded shall be referred to as the mark.
2. A player may take a penalty kick by punting, drop kicking
or place kicking the ball from any point on the line behind the mark and
equidistant from the touch line.
3. All players of the kicker's side must be behind the
ball when it is kicked. The kicker's opponentes shall retire not less than
10 yards from the line drawn through the mark and at right angles to the
touch line or to their own goal line if it is within 10 yards of the mark
and shall not make any attempt to distract the attention of the kicker.
If the kicker fails to find touch and the ball does not
travel at least 10 yards towards the opponents' goal line a scrum shall
be formed on the mark. If a player of the kicker's side infringes then
another penalty kick shall be awarded where the offence occurred or at
the original mark, whichever is to the advantage of the non-offending side.
SECTION 16
THE FAIR CATCH AND FREE KICK
1. A fair catch is a catch made direct, and at the first
attempt, from a kick, knock-on or throw forward by one of the opposite
side.
The player must have both feet on the ground when he makes
the catch and may claim a free kick by raising his hand or by making a
mark with his heel.
2. A free kick shall only be taken by the player
who makes the fair catch and he shall either drop kick, place kick or punt
the ball from any point behind the mark and equidistant from the touch
line. All players of the kicker's side shall be behind the ball when
it is kicked. The opposing players shall not advance nearer to their
opponents goal line than the mark and they shall not raise their hands
above their heads or make any movement to inter fere with the kicker.
3. If the ball fails to reach the mark or is kicked
into touch on the full a scrum shall be formed at the mark.
4. If a player takes a free kick from his own in-goal
the players of his side shall be behind the ball when it is kicked and
the opposing players shall not encroach into the in-goal area.
5. A goal shall not be allowed from a free kick.
SECTION 17
OBSTRUCTION AND FOUL PLAY
1. If a player is obstructed in the field of play when
following up a kick, a penalty kick shall be awarded where the ball first
bounces in the field of play or 5 yards from the touch line opposite where
the ball enters touch if it fails to bounce in the field of play.
2. A player shall not dispute the decisions of the referee
or touch judges.
3. A player who deliberately kicks, trips or strikes with
hand or arm and other player is guilty of foul play (see Section 9, Para
6).
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