"SET PIECE" THEME

Have a go! Support your answers with relevant Law Reference and Sanction. Answers will be listed in next week's Law Questions.

Referees - bring your answers to your local session next week for discussion.

Thanks to Graeme Meyrick for compiling. Want to get in touch to discuss law? Contact meyrick@xtra.co.nz

How is the mark of touch and who throws in determined in the following circumstances?

A. General

• Ball carrier goes into touch or kicks the ball indirectly into touch
• A player unintentionally knocks, passes or throws the ball into touch
• The ball hits a player and goes directly into touch
• The ball hits a player and it bounces into touch
• A player who is in touch catches or picks up a ball which has reached the plane of touch
• A player who is in touch catches or picks up a ball which has not reached the plane of touch

B. Ball is kicked directly into touch from a kick-off or restart kick

• The ball goes directly into touch from a kick-off or restart kick
• The ball goes directly into touch from a 22 drop out

C. Ball is kicked from a penalty

• A player kicks the ball into touch (either directly or first bouncing in the field of play or hitting an opponent or the referee)
• A player who is in touch catches the ball irrespective of whether the ball has reached the touchline
• A player who is in touch picks up a ball that has not reached the plane of touch

D. Ball is kicked directly into touch from within own 22 or in-goal

No Gain in Ground – the defending team took the ball into their 22, no tackle, ruck or maul occurred, and no opponent touched the ball within the 22. If a player, who is inside their own 22, picks up the ball when it is outside the 22, or catches the ball before it reaches the plane of the 22-metre line, and kicks it directly to touch from within the 22, then that player has taken the ball back into the 22.

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch
• An opposition player who is in touch catches the ball

Gain Ground – either the defending team did not take the ball into the 22 or a tackle, ruck or maul took place within the 22 or an opponent touched the ball within the 22.

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch
• An opposition player who is in touch catches the ball
• A player kicks the ball from a free kick awarded within the 22

E. Ball is kicked directly into touch from outside the 22

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch from open play or from a free kick

F. Lineout options

• Following an incorrect throw
• Following a disallowed quick throw
• Following an incorrect quick throw
• Following the ball going into touch from a knock on or throw forward
• From a PK or FK awarded for a lineout infringement

ANSWERS – Week 12

1. When is the ball in touch or touch-in-goal?

a. the ball or ball carrier touches the touch line, the touch-in-goal line or anything beyond it b. a player, who is already touching the touch line, touch-in-goal line or anything beyond, catches or holds the ball

(i) if the ball has reached the plane of touch when it is caught, the catcher is not deemed to have taken the ball into touch

(ii) if the ball has not reached the lane of touch when it is caught or picked up, the catcher is deemed to have taken the ball into touch, regardless of whether the ball was in motion or stationary

(Law 18.1)

2. When is the ball not in touch or touch-in-goal?

a. when the ball reaches the plane of touch but is caught, knocked, or kicked by a player who is in the playing area

b. when a player jumps from within or outside the playing area and catches the ball and then lands in the playing area, regardless of whether the ball reached the plane of touch

c. when a player jumps from the playing area and knocks, or catches and releases, the ball back into the playing area before landing in touch or touch-in-goal, regardless of whether the ball has reached the plane of touch

d. when a player who is in touch, kicks or knocks the ball but does not hold it, provided it has not reached the plane of touch

(Law 18.2)

3. At a quick throw in, how is the ball thrown in?

a. between the mark of touch and the thrower’s own-goal line

b. parallel or towards the thrower’s own goal-line

c. so that the ball reaches the 5m line before it touches the ground or hits a player

d. by a player who has both feet outside the field of play

(Law 18.4 – lineout or scrum option)

4. When should a quick lineout be disallowed?

a. a lineout had already formed

b. the ball had been touched after it went into touch by anyone other than the player throwing in or the player who carried the ball into touch

c. a different ball is used from the one that originally went into touch

(Law 18.5 – lineout awarded to the same team)

5. What does it mean if the mark of touch is outside the 22 and the defending team take a quick throw inside the 22?

The defending team is deemed to have taken the ball back into the 22 (Law 18.7)

6. What is the scrum zone?

The area in the field of play where a scrum may take place (Definition)

7. Where does a scrum take place and who throws in after:

· A knock-on or throw forward, apart from at a lineout?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to the place of infringement – non-offending team throws in

· A knock-on or throw forward at a lineout; incorrect throw at a lineout; incorrect quick throw?

15m in from the mark of touch – non-offending team throws in

· Offside in open play (scrum option)?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the offending team last played the ball – non-offending team throws in

· A penalty or free-kick (scrum option)?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the infringement took place – non-offending team throws in

· The ball is taken into in-goal by the defending team and made dead?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the ball was made dead – attacking team throws in

· An unplayable tackle or ruck?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the tackle or ruck took place – the team last moving forward throws in and if neither team was moving forward, the attacking team throws in

· A maul that ends unsuccessfully?

In the scrum zone at the point where the maul ended – the ball is thrown in by the team not in possession at the start of the maul and if the referee is unsure, by the team going forward and if neither team was going forward, the attacking team

· An unplayable maul after kick in open play?

In the scrum zone at the point to where the maul took place – the team in possession at the start of the maul throws in

· An incorrect kick-off or restart kick (scrum option)?

The middle of the halfway line or 22m line if the restart kick was a 22 drop out – non-kicking team throws in

· Failure to “use it” at scrum, ruck or maul?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the scrum, ruck or maul took place – team not in possession throws in

· The ball or ball-carrier touches the referee and either team gains an advantage?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the incident took place – the team that last played the ball throws in

· Stoppage due to injury?

In the scrum zone at the point where the ball was last played – the team last in possession throws in

· Reset scrum – no infringement?

Where the original scrum took place – the team originally awarded the scrum throws in

· A penalty attempt at goal not taken within the time limit?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the penalty was awarded – the non-offending team throws in

· A player unable to take a free-kick after a mark within one minute?

In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the FK was awarded – team of the player awarded the FK throws in

· The referee awards a scrum for any other reason not covered in law?

In the scrum zone at the point closet to the place of stoppage – the team last moving forward throws in and if no team was moving forward, the attacking team throws in

(Law 19.1)

Article added: Sunday 04 July 2021