Clarification 4-2016

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee

Request

Below is a link showing three players taking Penalty Kicks during the recent HSBC Sevens. They are doing so by dropping the ball onto their foot and then playing the ball:

https://worldrugby.box.com/s/j02ul1dl3x309ojuv6i5dsg0t3t1lzz8

KICK- Definition. Law Book Page 6 A kick is made by hitting the ball with any part of the leg or foot except the heel, from the toe to the knee but not including the knee .a kick must move the ball a visible distance out of the hand or along the ground.

Law 21.3 (a) How Penalty and Free Kicks are taken. Any player may take a penalty or free kick awarded for an infringement with any type of kick, punt, drop kick, or place kick. The ball may be kicked with any part of the lower leg from knee to the foot excluding the knee and the heel.

Law 21.4 (d) A clear kick. The kicker must kick the ball a clear distance If the kicker is holding it, it must clearly leave the hands, if it is on the ground it must clearly.

Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee

The Designated Members have reviewed this request for clarification and the below are the relevant responses.

Dropping the ball onto the foot does not constitute a correctly taken Penalty or free kick and Law 21.4 (d) must be complied with:
21.4 (d)
A clear kick. The kicker must kick the ball a visible distance. If the kicker is holding it, it must clearly leave the hands. If it is on the ground, it must clearly leave the mark
Sanction: Unless otherwise stated in Law any infringement by the kicker’s team results in a scrum at the mark. The opposing team throw in the ball.

To be applied from: January 1st, 2017