Clarification 1-2008

Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

This clarification was incorporated into law in 2009

Request

Under IRB Ruling 14: 2003, the Designated Members ruled the following:

Ruling
If a player with one or both feet inside (presumably on or behind) the 22-metre line, picks up the ball which was stationary outside the 22-metre line, and kicks it directly into touch, then the player has taken the ball back inside the 22-metre line, and therefore the line-out is formed in line with where the ball was kicked.

If a player with one or both feet inside (presumably on or behind) the 22-metre line, picks up the ball which was in motion outside the 22-metre line, and kicks it directly into touch, then the player has not taken the ball back inside the 22-metre line, and therefore the line-out is formed in line with where the ball crossed the touch-line.

With this in mind, the RFU requests a ruling with regard to the following:
(In both the above and in our request, we have assumed that ‘in motion’ applies to both a ball in the air and to a ball rolling along the ground).

1. If a player with one or both feet on or behind the goal line, picks up the ball, which was stationary within the field of play, is that player deemed to have picked up the ball in the field of play and thereby that player has taken the ball into in-goal?
2. If a player with one or both feet on or behind the goal line picks up the ball, which was in motion within the field of play, is that player deemed to have picked up the ball within in-goal?
3. If a player with one or both feet on or behind the deal ball line, picks up the ball, which was stationary within in-goal, is that player deemed to have
picked up the ball in in-goal and thereby that player has made the ball dead?
4. If a player with one or both feet on or behind the dead ball line picks up the ball, which was in motion within in-goal, is that player deemed to have picked up the ball outside the playing area?
5. If a player with one or both feet on or beyond the touch-line (or touch-in-goal line), picks up the ball, which was stationary within the playing area, is that player deemed to have picked up the ball in the playing area and thereby that player has taken the ball into touch (or touch-in-goal)?
6. If a player with one or both feet on or beyond the touch-line (or touch-in-goal line), picks up the ball, which was in motion within the playing are, is that player deemed to have picked up the ball in touch (or touch-in-goal)?

Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

The Designated Members have ruled the following in answer to the questions raised:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes