Law

Grades Applicable

Application

50:22

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.

Goal Line Dropout

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded or made dead by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.

Flying Wedge

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players

1 Player pre-latched

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

To recognise the potential for 1-player pre-latching prior to contact, but this player must observe all of the requirements for a first arriving player, particularly the need to stay on their feet.

Targeting at Ruck

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above 

To introduce a sanction for clean outs which target or drop weight onto the lower limbs.

Scrum Reset

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

Scrum re-set when there is no infringement (Law 19-34,35) – options of an uncontested re-set scrum or a Free Kick

Scrum Push - 1.5m

All Secondary and Senior Rugby, U14 and above

Scrum push no more than 1.5m unless it is a scrum set 5m* from the goal-line (Law 19-38.g)

*Secondary school rugby cannot push more than 1.5m

Offside at Scrum

Non-Premier Secondary and Senior Rugby (excl. 1A, 1B and Premier Rugby)

Offside at the scrum for the halfback of the team who does not win the scrum (Law 19-28,29,30): this player must not go past the mid-line of the scrum once the ball is thrown in and won by the opposition.

High Ball Catch

Non-Premier Secondary Rugby (excl. 1A, 1B)

When catching a ball directly from a kick in general play, a player must:

a) have at least 1 foot on the ground (no jumping to catch the ball)

b) immediately run or pass the ball after making the catch

Sanction - Free-kick 

c) Following a ball being caught from a kick in general play, the opposition must not tackle the catcher before they take a step (if they elect to run)

Sanction - Penalty kick

Tackle Height 

Non-Premier Secondary Rugby (excl. 1A, 1B)

Tackles must be made below the sternum (Law 9-13)