Law 13 - Kick-off and Restart Kicks

DEFINITION

The kick-off occurs at the start of the match and the re-start of the match after half-time. Re-start kicks occur after a score or a touch down.

1 WHERE THE KICK-OFF IS TAKEN

The kick-off is taken at the centre of the half-way line. If the ball is kicked from the wrong place it is kicked-off again.

2 HOW A KICK-OFF IS TAKEN

(a) At the start of the match and after half-time, a team kicks-off with a drop kick which must be taken at or behind the centre of the half-way line.

(b) The kicker may place the ball on sand, sawdust or a kicking tee approved by the Union.

(c) After a score a team kicks-off with a drop kick which must be taken at or behind the centre of the half-way line.

(d) If the ball is kicked-off by the wrong type of kick, it is kicked-off again.

3 WHO TAKES THE KICK-OFF

(a) At the start of the game, the team whose captain elected to take the kick after winning the toss kicks-off or the opposing team if the winning captain elected to choose end.

(b) After the half-time interval, the opponents of the team who kicked-off at the start of the game kick-off.

(c) After a score the opponents of the team who scored kick-off.

4 POSITION OF THE KICKERS TEAM AT A KICK-OFF

All the kickers team, except the placer, must be behind the ball when it is kicked. If they are not, a scrum is formed at the centre. Their opponents throw in the ball.

5 POSITION OF THE OPPOSING TEAM AT A KICK-OFF

All the opposing team must stand on or behind the 10-metre line. If they are in front of that line or if they charge before the ball is kicked, it is kicked-off again.

6 KICK-OFF OF 10 METRES

If the ball reaches the opponents 10-metre line or reaches the 10-metre line and is blown back, play goes on.

7 KICK-OFF OF UNDER 10 METRES BUT PLAYED BY AN OPPONENT

If the ball does not reach the opponents 10-metre line but is first played by an opponent, play goes on.

8 KICK-OFF OF UNDER 10 METRES AND NOT PLAYED BY AN OPPONENT

If the ball does not reach the opponents 10-metre line the opposing team has two choices:

To have the ball kicked-off again, or
To have a scrum at the centre. They throw in the ball.

9 BALL GOES DIRECTLY INTO TOUCH

The ball must land in the field-of-play. If it is kicked directly into touch the opposing team has three choices:

To have the ball kicked off again, or
To have a scrum at the centre and they have the throw-in, or
To accept the kick.

If they accept the kick, the line-out is on the half-way line. If the ball is blown behind the half-way line and goes directly into touch, the line-out is at the place where it went into touch.

10 BALL GOES INTO THE IN-GOAL

(a) If the ball is kicked into the opponents' in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:

To ground the ball, or
To make it dead, or
To play on.

(b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or if they make it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line, they have two choices:

To have a scrum formed at the centre of the half-way line, and they throw in the ball, or
To have the other team kick-off again.

(c) If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.

11 DROP-OUT

DEFINITION

A drop-out is used to restart play after an attacking player has put or taken the ball into the in-goal, without infringement, and a defending player has made the ball dead there or it has gone into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line.

A drop-out is a drop kick taken by the defending team. The drop-out may be taken anywhere on or behind the 22-metre line.

12 DELAY IN DROP-OUT

The drop-out must be taken without delay.

Penalty: Free kick on the 22-metre line.

13 DROP-OUT INCORRECTLY TAKEN

If the ball is kicked by the wrong type of kick, or from the wrong place, it must be dropped-out again.

14 DROP-OUT BALL MUST CROSS THE LINE

(a) If the ball does not cross the 22-metre line, the opposing team has two choices:

To have another drop-out, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line. They throw in the ball.

(b) If the ball crosses the 22-metre line but is blown back, play continues.

(c) If the ball does not cross the 22-metre line, advantage may apply. An opponent who plays the ball can score a try.

15 BALL GOES DIRECTLY INTO TOUCH

The ball must land in the field-of-play. If it is kicked directly into touch, the opposing team has three choices:

To have another drop-out, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line, and they throw in the ball, or
To accept the kick. If they accept the kick, the throw-in is where the ball went into touch.

16 BALL GOES INTO THE IN-GOAL FROM A DROP-OUT

(a) If the ball is kicked into the opponents' in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:

To ground the ball, or
To make it dead, or
To play on.

(b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or makes it dead, or if the ball goes dead by going into touch-in-goal, or on or over the dead-ball line, they have two choices:

To have a scrum formed at the centre of the 22m-line from where the kick was taken and they throw in the ball, or
To have the other team drop out again.

(c) If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.

17 THE KICKER'S TEAM

(a) All the kickers team must be behind the ball when it is kicked. If not, a scrum is formed at the centre of the 22-metre line. The opposing team throws in the ball.

(b) However, if the kick is taken so quickly that players of the kickers team who are retiring are still in front of the ball, they will not be penalised. They must not stop retiring until they have been made on-side by an action of a team-mate. They must not take part in the game until they have been made on-side in this way.

Penalty: Scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line. The opposing team throws in the ball.

18 THE OPPOSING TEAM

(a) The opposing team must not charge over the 22-metre line before the ball is kicked. If they do, another drop-out is taken.

(b) If an opponent is on the wrong side of the 22-metre line and delays or obstructs the drop-out, the player is guilty of misconduct.

Penalty: Penalty kick on the 22-metre line