Clarification 1-2003

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

This clarification was incorporated into law in 2009

Request

SARU has requested further rulings with regard to the line-out Law 19.10 Exception 2. (The original request for a ruling came from the IRFU and a response from the Designated Members was sent out on 5 September 2002.)

(1) Must (or may) the receiver running into the gap receive/take the ball irrespective of the throw-in?

(2) What happens if it is an involuntary bad throw?

(3) Are dummy jumpers allowed and may the receiver act as a "dummy jumper"?

(4) What must/may the opposing receiver do?

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

(1) Exception 2 states that a receiver may run into a gap in the lineout and receive the ball. If he does not receive the ball he is therefore liable to penalty. The September 2002 ruling made it clear that the same principle should apply to the receiver of the non-throwing team.

(2) The receiver who has run into the lineout and does not take the ball is liable to penalty. However, the referee would need to make a decision on the reason for him not taking the ball. The receiver should not be penalised if he makes a genuine attempt to take the ball.

(3) Dummy jumpers are not illegal but the receiver who enters the lineout must make a genuine attempt to take the ball. (Please note the ruling of November 15, 2002 regarding the timing of entry into the lineout). The receiver may not act as a dummy jumper.

(4) The opposing receiver may attempt to take the ball but is liable to penalty for any other action.