Law 13 - KickOff and Restart Kicks

DEFINITION
The kickoff occurs at the start of the match and the restart of the match after half time. Restart kicks occur after a score or a touch down.

13.1 WHERE AND HOW THE KICKOFF IS TAKEN

(a) A team kicks off with a drop kick which must be taken at or behind the centre of the half-way line.
(b) If the ball is kicked off by the wrong type of kick, or from the incorrect place, the opposing team has two choices:
To have the ball kicked off again, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the half-way line and they throw in the ball.

13.2 WHO TAKES THE KICKOFF AND RESTART KICK

(a) At the start of the game, the team whose captain elected to take the kick after winning the toss will kickoff, or the opposing team if the winning captain elected to choose an end.
(b) After the half time interval, the opponents of the team who kicked off at the start of the game kick off.
(c) After a score the opponents of the team who scored restart play.

13.3 POSITION OF THE KICKER’S TEAM AT A KICK OFF
All the kicker’s team must be behind the ball when it is kicked. If they are not, a scrum is formed at the centre. Their opponents throw in the ball.

13.4 POSITION OF THE OPPOSING TEAM AT A KICK OFF
All the opposing team must stand on or behind the 10-metre line. If they are in front of that line or if they charge before the ball is kicked, it is kicked off again.

13.5 KICK OFF OF 10 METRES
If the ball reaches the opponents’ 10-metre line or reaches the 10-metre line and is blown back, play continues.

13.6 KICK OFF OF UNDER 10 METRES BUT PLAYED BY AN OPPONENT
If the ball does not reach the opponent’s 10-metre line but is first played by an opponent, play continues.

13.7 KICK OFF OF UNDER 10 METRES AND NOT PLAYED BY AN OPPONENT
If the ball does not reach the opponent’s 10-metre line the opposing team has two choices:
To have the ball kicked off again, or
To have a scrum at the centre. They throw in the ball.

13.8 BALL GOES DIRECTLY INTO TOUCH
The ball must land in the field of play. If it is kicked directly into touch the opposing team has three choices:
To have the ball kicked off again, or
To have a scrum at the centre and they have the throw in, or
To accept the kick.
If they accept the kick, the lineout is on the half-way line. If the ball is blown behind the half-way line and goes directly into touch, the lineout is at the place where it went into touch.

13.9 BALL GOES INTO THE IN-GOAL
(a) If the ball is kicked into the in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:
To ground the ball, or
To make it dead, or
To play on.

(b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or if they make it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over
the dead ball line, they have two choices:
To have a scrum formed at the centre, and they throw in the ball,
or
To have the other team kick off again.

(c) If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.

13.10 DROP OUT

DEFINITION
A drop out is used to restart play after an attacking player has put or taken the ball into the in-goal, without infringement, and a defending player has made the ball dead there or it has gone into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line.

A drop out is a drop kick taken by the defending team. The drop out may be taken anywhere on or behind the 22-metre line.

13.11 DELAY IN DROP OUT
The drop out must be taken without delay.
Penalty: Free Kick on the 22-metre line.

13.12 DROP OUT INCORRECTLY TAKEN
If the ball is kicked with the wrong type of kick, or from the wrong place, the opposing team has two choices:
To have another drop out, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line and they throw in the ball.

13.13 DROP OUT MUST CROSS THE LINE
(a) If the ball does not cross the 22-metre line, the opposing team has two choices:
To have another drop out, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line.
They throw in the ball.
(b) If the ball crosses the 22-metre line but is blown back, play continues.
(c) If the ball does not cross the 22-metre line, advantage may apply. An opponent who plays the ball can score a try.

13.14 DROP OUT GOES DIRECTLY INTO TOUCH
The ball must land in the field of play. If it is kicked directly into touch, the opposing team has three choices:
To have another drop out, or
To have a scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line, and they throw in the ball, or
To accept the kick. If they accept the kick, the throw in is on the 22-metre line.

13.15 DROP OUT GOES INTO THE OPPONENTS IN-GOAL
(a) If the ball is kicked into the opponent’s in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:
To ground the ball, or
To make it dead, or
To play on.

(b) If the opposing team grounds the ball, or makes it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, they have two choices:
To have a scrum formed at the centre of the 22-metre line from where the kick was taken and they throw in the ball, or
To have the other team drop out again.
(c) If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.

13.16 THE KICKER’S TEAM
(a) All the kicker’s team must be behind the ball when it is kicked. If not, a scrum is formed at the centre of the 22-metre line. The opposing team throws in the ball.
(b) However, if the kick is taken so quickly that players of the kicker’s team who are retiring are still in front of the ball, they will not be penalised. They must not stop retiring until they have been made onside by an action of a team mate. They must not take part in the game until they have been made onside in this way.
Penalty: Scrum at the centre of the 22-metre line. The opposing team throws in the ball.

13.17 THE OPPOSING TEAM
(a) The opposing team must not charge over the 22-metre line before the ball is kicked.
Penalty: Free Kick at the place of infringement.
(b) If an opponent is on the wrong side of the 22-metre line and delays or obstructs the drop out, the player is guilty of misconduct.
Penalty: Penalty Kick on the 22-metre line