Back to Refereeing HomepageLAW 14. IN-GOAL
In-goal is the area bounded by a goal-line, touch-in-goal lines and dead ball line. It includes the goal line and goal posts but excludes touch-in-goal-lines and dead-ball line.
Touch-in-goal occurs when the ball or a player carrying it touches a corner post or a touch-in-goal line or the ground or a person or object on or beyond it. The flag is not part of the corner post.
Five Metres Scrummage
(1) A five metre scrummage is a scrummage formed five metres from the goal-line opposite the place where the ball became dead in In-goal, but no closer than five metres from the touch-line.
(2) If a player carrying the ball in In-goal is so held that he cannot ground the ball, the ball becomes dead.
Note:- (i) If play similar to a maul takes place in In-goal, Law 14(2) applies.
(3) A five metre scrummage shall be formed and the attacking team shall put in the ball:
(a) if a defending player heels, kicks, carries, passes or knocks the ball into his In-goal, and it there becomes dead without an infringement having occurred, except where a try is scored, or he wilfully knocks or throws the ball from the field-of-play into touch-in-goal or over his dead-ball line, or
(b) if a defending player carrying the ball in the field-of-play is forced into his In-goal and he then touches down, or
(c) if, at a scrummage or ruck a defending team, with the ball in its possession, is pushed over its goal-line and before the ball has emerged first grounds it in In-goal.
Note:- (ii) If from a free kick or a penalty kick taken in In-goal the ball is made dead by the defending team before it has crossed the goal-line, a scrummage shall be awarded to the attacking team five metres from the goal-line opposite to where it was made dead.
Drop-Out
(4) As a result of an infringement by the attacking team in In-goal for which the penalty is a scrummage the defending team shall put in the ball.
(5) Except where the ball is knocked on or thrown forward in the field-of-play or In-goal, if an attacking player kicks, carries, passes or charges down the ball from an opponents kick and it travels into his opponents In-goal, either directly or having touched a defender who does not wilfully attempt to stop, catch or kick it, and it is there
* grounded by a defending player, or
* goes into touch in goal or over the dead-ball-line a drop-out shall be awarded.
Penalties
(a) A penalty try shall be awarded when by foul play in In-goal the defending team has prevented a try which otherwise would probably have been scored.
(b) A try shall be disallowed and a penalty kick awarded, if a try would probably not have been gained but for foul play by the attacking team.
(c) For foul play in In-goal while the ball is out of play the penalty kick shall be awarded at the place where play would otherwise have re-started and, in addition, the player shall either be ordered off or cautioned that he will be sent off if he repeats the offence.
(d) For wilfully charging or obstructing in In-goal a player who has just kicked the ball the penalty shall be
* a penalty kick in the field-of-play five metres from the goal-line opposite the place of infringement, or, at the option of the non-offending team,
* a penalty kick where the ball alights as provided under Law 26(3) Penalty (ii)(b).
(e) for other infringements in In-goal, the penalty shall be the same as for a similar infringement in the field-of-play except that the mark for a penalty kick or free kick shall be in the field-of-play five metres from the goal-line opposite the place of infringement and the place of any scrummage shall be five metres from the goal-line opposite the place of infringement but not within five metres of the touch-line.
Note:- (iii) When the ball has been made dead as provided under Law 15(7) a drop out may be awarded.
(iv) Section (5) applies when the defending player has part of either foot on or behind the goal-line.
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