Players
The game shall be played by two
teams of 13 players, with another 4 pre-named players available for six
interchanges. The players are numbered 1 to 13 with additional numbers for
substitutes. The game is 80 minutes' duration
Players Equipment
A players
equipment shall consist of a jersey, shorts, socks and studded boots.
Protective clothing may be worn
Point Scoring:
A try is scored when the ball is grounded in
the opponents' in-goal (4 points). Once a try is scored a conversion attempt may
be taken to kick the ball over the opponents' cross-bar (2 points). If the
referee cannot decide if the try was scored he may consult the
his touch judges or give the decision to the video referee (if the game
is televised).
If at any time during the
game the attacking team is within kicking range of the opponents' goal, a field
goal make be taken. This is a drop punt (1 point). A
successful field goal to be awarded even if the ball has been touched in
flight.
When a kick at goal is
being taken, the referee shall assign one touch-judge to each post. If there is
no disagreement between the two touch-judges then their decision shall be
accepted. In the event of disagreement, the referee will make the final
decision.
Penalty Kick
A penalty kick shall be
awarded against any player who is guilty of misconduct provided that is not to
the disadvantage of the non-offending side. In the event of further misconduct
by the offending side, the referee shall advance the mark 10m towards the
offending team's goal-line.
A player may take a penalty
kick by punting, drop-kicking, or place-kicking the
ball from any point on or directly behind the mark (the place where the
infringement occurred). The ball can be kicked in any direction (including
backwards if the team requires room for a set play near the try line). If the
ball is kicked into touch from a penalty kick the game is restarted by placing
the ball on the ground 10m infield opposite the point of entry into touch.
Players of the kicker's side must be
behind the ball when it is kicked and players of the opposing team shall retire
10m. If the ball is kicked into touch without touching any other player the
kicking team shall restart play with a free kick. If a penalty is awarded for
an offence by the attacking team in the opponents' in-goal area the mark shall
be 5m in the field-of-play opposite to where the offence occurred.
Kick Off
The captains of the two
teams shall toss for choice of ends in the presence of the referee. The team of
the captain losing the toss shall kick off to start the game. A kick-off is a
place-kick from the centre of the half-way line.
The non-scoring side will
kick to restart play. If the kicker finds touch, the kicking team will get the
loose and feed.
20m Restart
The game will commence with
a ‘free’ kick from the centre of the 20 metre line (i.e. The ball does not have
to be tapped on the ground) if :-
- an attacking player last touches the ball before
it goes out of play over the dead-ball-line, or into touch-in-goal except
from a penalty kick or from a kick-off from the centre of the half-way
line
- an attacking player infringes in
the in-goal area. In the event of a deliberate breach by an attacking
player a penalty kick is awarded 5m in the field-of-play in line with
where the breach was committed
a defending player, in his
in-goal, takes a kick in general play from an opponent on the full.
Drop-Out
The game is restarted with
a drop-out by a defending player from the centre of his goal-line if
- a defending player last touches the ball before
it goes over the dead-ball line or into touch-in-goal
- a defending player accidentally infringes in the
in-goal area
- a defending player touches down in the in-goal
area
- a defending player in possession is tackled in the
in-goal area
- a defending player kicks the
ball into touch on the full from his own in-goal area.