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170 results returned for dead-ball line
Clarification 2-2007
s of the Rugby Committee A substitution can only be made when the ball is dead. A referee must not let a player rejoin the match until the ball is dead. The ball is dead when the ball is out of play. This happens when the ball has gone outside the playing area and remained there, or when the referee ha ... h cases outlined above, the ball is dead, and therefore the answer to each question is in the affirmative.
Offside at the ruck - May 2014
When a scrum half attempts to retrieve the ball from a ruck, the ball is not out until that player has picked the ball up from the ground. In the clip the scrum half is taken out by the player before the ball is off the ground and this would be deemed to be offside by the player tackling the scrum half. If, however, the scrum half had picked up the ball and a defending player tackles the scru
Clarification 5-2016
p by a player who had a foot over a touch in goal line or whether the players foot was over the dead ball line; and Whether or not the ball is dead following a player returning the ball to the playing area could depend on whether the ball was over the touch in-goal line or dead ball line. The differen ... 9) will also apply to the dead ball line and to the goal line. Also, note that whether the bal
Enforcement of current Law - June 2012
d but that current Law was to be enforced by match officials including: 1. Ball ripped from a ball carry not to be considered a knock-on 2. Offside when the ball is kicked to touch thereby preventing quick throw ins 3. Squeeze ball and the need to ensure the bal
14 Tackle
c. Arrive at the tackle from the direction of their own try line before playing the ball. Sanctio ... y player in the tackle or on their feet over the ball. If that point is on or behind the try line, the offside line for that team is the try line. Offside lines created by player on feet over bal ... d in the tackle must ensure a fair contest and allow the ball to be available for play immediatel
Clarification 3-2025
g towards their own dead ball line while the ball is in play. When the ball is deemed to be in touc ... p; Q3) A player is retreating when they are moving backwards towards their own dead ball line. They nee ... n of the designated members of the Rugby Committee Response The ball is dead when the ball is in touc ... s that the game is played only by players who are onside. Before the ball is dead, Law 10.4 a, b and c mak
15 Ruck
m the ground; or when the ball in the ruck is on or over the try line. 15.20 The ruck ends whe ... Principle The purpose of a ruck is to allow players to compete for the ball whic ... k is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball whic ... e line that runs parallel to the try line through the hindmost point of any ruck participan
The maul - January/June 2016
For implementation: January 1st 2016 in Southern Hemisphere June 1st 2016 in Northern Hemisphere The ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed (see video 1). A player is not allowed to move/slide backwards in the maul when the player is in possession of the ball and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanctio
10 Offside and onside in open play
g the ball or who last played it. When the last action is a kick, the foot kicking the ball determines the offside line. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes: a. Playing the ball. b. Tackling the ball-carrier. c. Preventing the opposition from playing as they wish. ... t; or Scrum where the offending team last played the ball. b. Moves towards the ball; or Sanctio
16 Maul
c. The ball is on or over the try line. 16.17 A maul ends unsuccessfully when: a. The ball become ... m. c. The maul does not move towards a try line for longer than five seconds and the ball doe ... Principle The purpose of a maul is to allow players to compete for the ball, which is held of ... 2 It consists of a ball carrier and at least one player from each team, bound together and on their fee
3 Team
s are made only when the ball is dead and only with the permission of the referee. 3.7 If a player r
Enforcement of current law - refereeing at the breakdown - March 2020
r LAW 14 – Tackle Tacklers must: Immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground. Immediately move away from the tackled player and from the ball or get u ... n, providing that the player is on their feet, has shown a clear release of the ball and tackled player and arrives from the direction of their own goal line Tackler must roll awa
2025-06 Law clarification - Diving over a ruck to score
World Rugby have issued a new formal law clarification relating to the actions of a ball carrier diving over a ruck to score a try. This can be found here .
Clarification 9-2014
l or on or over the dead ball line." 21.4 Penalty and free kick options and requirements: "c) No dela ... r the dead ball line, a drop-out is awarded." 22.8 Ball kicked dead through in-goal: "If a team kicks the ball through their opponents' in-goal into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball lin ... s the ball through their opponents’ in-goal into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball lin
IRB Maul Working Group Outcomes - August 2009
k of an elongated maul holding the ball whilst the maul moves forward (‘truck and trailer’). An IRB working grou ... t Clip 1f - Legal at restart 2 A player may have both hands on the ball and be boun ... l 3 If a player takes the ball in a formed maul and detaches whilst the player ... 4 If the ball carrying team in the maul is moved backwards at or immediately after the formatio
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
y or it goes into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line, the non-kicking team is awarded a fre ... g retaken or a scrum. Replaced by: 12.6 The ball must reach the 10-metre line. Sanction: Free-kic ... r and an opponent grounds the ball without delay or it goes dead through in-goal, the non-kicking team ha ... g team, or the ball goes dead through in-goal from one these attempts. by: 12.11 Apart fro
2025-01 - Global Law Trials
p; Quicker conversions A new set time to form a lineout (in line with 30 seconds at the scrum) Cleane ... l laws content . Timings Rationale: Shorter stoppages in play Conversio ... e the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. 8.8a deletion - consequential change The kicker: a. Uses the ball that was in play unless it is defective. Sanctio
Setting the scene
These 11 questions all relate to areas of the game you need to think about before a match kicks off, or are related to the role of a match official. For example, it will include laws relating to the ground, team, ball, players clothing, time, match officials, and match official signals.
2026-06 Law Application Guideline - Players on the wrong side of the maul
r initial dominance at set up, then become ineffective in the contest, and in the way of the ball being played away. What are the key observables? The contest for the ball is over, and player gets beyond the ball and/or into a pulling/dragging position. There is no change in la ... e that when they get beyond the ball and out of the contest, they leave the maul. Referee
Maul - June 2026
e is a line through the ball. Law 18.33 : When a ruck or maul forms at the mark of touc ... n of the ball, or pushing/driving to gain or defend field position. This guideline reinforce ... s to compete for the ball, which is held off the ground.” If a team wishes to form a maul, or to defen ... t from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier. Sanction: Penalty. At a lineout, lifter
Dangerous tackles - October 2026
p a knee to the ground before they make a tackle on a ball carrier. These actions create a number of player welfare concerns – with the tackler’s head being lowered rapidly to the knee height of a ball carrier, and for the ball carrier who makes contact with an anchored tackler, or the dynamics of it forcing the ball carrier to flip/invert onto the ground. These actions have led to an increas
Five key areas of refereeing June 2012
s who wished to use the ball quickly and in space would be entitled to do so. The 5 key area ... r to release tackled player immediately Tackled player to release or pass ball immediately Assis ... h the gate Ball winning team should not prevent a contest by “sealing off” Arriving players shoul ... s of the ball alighting must retire and continue to retire until outside the 10metres or put onsid
Clarification 4-2011
r A from the red team runs towards the blue team’s dead ball line. Opponent B approaches A fro ... l and the ball travels towards the blue team’s goal line. (We often see this ruled a knock-on by A). 2. Ball-carrier A from the red team runs towards the blue team’s dead ball line. Opponent B approaches A fro ... l and the ball travels towards the red team’s goal line. (We often see this either ruled play or a knoc
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
s the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls ove ... o, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scru ... s (the jackler) not aiming to play the ball. Players are reminded about their responsibilities not to hold the ball or walk off with the ball at penalties – this reduces attacking options by the no
Clarification 1-2008
h feet on or behind the dead ball line picks up the ball, which was in motion within in-goa ... r with one or both feet inside (presumably on or behind) the 22-metre line, picks up the ball whic ... n the ball back inside the 22-metre line, and therefore the line-out is formed in line with where the bal ... e, picks up the ball which was in motion outside the 22-metre line, and kicks it directly into touc
2026-11 Law change - Hip drop tackles
t injuries to the ball carrier. World Rugby’s Tackle Working Group heard representations abou ... w Definition: Hip-drop tackle: When a ball carrier… - is grasped and tackled from the side or behind, and ; - the tackler swings round or through the ball carrier, and/or ; - drops their hips/body weight down on to the legs or lower limbs of the ball carrier as… they are brought to ground. Amended Law 9.1
2026-06 Community Tackle Height law wordings approved
e sanction line – shoulder line in elite rugby, or waist/base of the sternum in community rugby. The bal ... e height of the waist or to the base of the sternum line. They may also choose to sanction bal ... s, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders which leads to head contact; or tacklin
Side entry - July 2022
6 - Tacklers may play the ball from the direction of their own goal line provided they have complie ... s must arrive at the tackle from the direction of their own goal line before playing the ball. Ruck law 15 Principle - The purpose of a ruck is to allow players to compete for the ball whic ... d their offside line. Ruck law 15.6 - A player may join alongside but not in front of the hindmost playe
Decision-making framework for high tackles - May 2019
m of the shoulder making contact with the ball carrier is behind the tackler’s body or tucke ... t is identified by clear contact to ball carrier’s head/neck OR the head visibly moves backwards from the contact point OR the ball carrier requires an HIA Note: the head’s first movement is bac ... y-contact’ shoulder charge IF SHOULDER CHARGE OR HIGH TACKLE: Was there ball carrier head/nec
17 Mark
t one foot on or behind their own 22-metre line when catching the ball or when landing having caught it in the air; and b. Catch a ball that has reached the plane of the 22-metre line directly fro ... k”. 17.2 A player may claim a mark even if the ball hits a goal post or crossbar before bein ... n the 22 At the place of the mark but at least five metres from the try line, in line with the plac
Enforcement of current Law - May 2015
s in a realistic position to catch the ball. Even if the player(s) land(s) dangerously, pla ... l. Manage the situation If the scrum becomes stationary and the ball is available, the referee will call "use it" Sanction all players who join in front of the ball carrier – Law 17.4(
Head Contact Process - March 2021
l head contact. Not all head contacts are foul play Accidental contact with the ball-carrier tackle ... l head clash between white 15 and red 14 - both competing for the ball at the same height The ‘powe ... e vs low force 4. Is there any mitigation? Considerations include: Line of sight Sudde ... p in height by the ball carrier Player had no time to readjust Passive action Involuntary collisio
Laws app - what's new
d into full law (the GLT designation removed from laws content) Minor changes to law wordings throughout - see news here Law clarification relating to players handling the ball when the contes ... s Clarification relating to status of offside player when ball goes into touch and a quick thro ... g the app for first time, and for content updates for existing users January 2025 New ap
Charging into the ruck - February 2010
Y AND MISCONDUCT Dangerous charging. A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the bal
Clarification 1-2017
9 especially in relation to: Bringing the 22m line in line with the clarification (clarification 5 from 2016) for goal line and dead ball line: http://laws.worldrugby.org/?domain=10&year=2016&am ... h definitions (Law 19) will also apply to the 22m line as well as the dead ball line and to the goal line. The alignment of the 22m line provisions with Law 19 does not affect the definition of Law 1
2025-04 Minor law amends to protect medical staff and add minimum perimeter areas
s of the teams and the ball persons. Law 6.30 “No additional persons should approach, addres
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
t grounds the ball without delay or it goes into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball lin ... k. 12.6 [Replacement] 12.6 The ball must reach the 10-metre line. Sanction: The non-kicking tea ... h the 10-metre line. Sanction: Free-kick. 12.8 [Replacement] 12.8 If the ball goes directl ... l without touching any player and an opponent grounds the ball without delay or it goes dead throug
Clarification 1-2009
e cannot be played after the ball is dead. The Definition of dead on page (viii) of the IRB Law Book 2008 is The ball is out of play. 2. The referee will award a scrum at the place of infringemen ... 0 Request Senario Team A moves the ball from right to left when the final pass to a colleague close to the touchline is knocked on with the ball crossing the touchline. The non offending side immediatel
Clarification 2-2010
s the ball directly into touch • Kicks the ball dead on or over the opponents touch-in-goal or dead ball line The referee will offer the non-offending team the options provided by Law 13.7, 13.8 and 13.9 respectively and the match continues until the ball next becomes dead. ... n that it is to be the “last play” of the match. If the ball is kicked directly out on the full from the restar
Clarification 3-2009
e keeping” . Law 5.7 (e) stipulates that “if time expires and the ball is not dead or a scrum or lineout has been awarded, the referee allows play to continue until the next time that the ball becomes dead.” The ball is dead “when it has gone outside the playing area, or when the referee has blow ... 2 The referee ends the match as there has been an offence that ensures that the ball is dead afte