LAW 24. OFF-SIDE
Off-side means that a player is in a position in which he is out of the game
and is liable to penalty.
In general play the player is in an off-side position because he is in front
of the ball when it has been last played by another player of his team.
In play at scrummage, ruck, maul or line-out the player is offside because he
remains or advances in front of the line or place stated in, or otherwise
infringes, the relevant sections of this Law.
A. Off-Side in General Play
- (1)
- A player is in an off-side position if the ball has been
- kicked, or
- touched, or
- is being carried
by one of his team behind him.
- (2)
- There is no penalty for being in an off-side position unless:-
- (a)
- the player plays the ball or obstructs an opponent, or
- (b)
- he being within ten meters of an opponent waiting to play the ball or of the
place where the ball pitches does not retire without delay and without
interfering with the opponent, or
- (c)
- he, on all other occasions, moves towards the opponents waiting to play the
ball or to the place where the ball pitches, before he is put on-side.
- Exceptions:-
-
- (i)
- When an off-side player cannot avoid being touched by the ball or by a
player carrying it, he is "accidentally offside". Play should be allowed to
continue unless the infringing team obtains an advantage, in which case a
scrummage shall be formed at that place.
- (ii)
- A player who receives an unintentional throw-forward is not off-side.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick at the place of infringement, or, at the option of the
non-offending team, a scrummage at the place where the ball was last played by
the offending team. If the latter place is in In-goal, the penalty kick shall be
taken or the scrummage shall be formed five meters from the goal line, on a line
through the place. For an infringement of (2)(c) by more
than one player, the place of infringement will be that of the off-side player
closest to the player waiting for the ball or where the ball pitches.
Notes:-
- (i)
- A penalty for off-side should not be given at once if the non-offending team
gains an advantage or if it appears likely to gain an advantage; but if the
expected advantage is not gained, the penalty should in all cases be awarded
even if it is necessary to bring play back for that purpose to the place of
infringement.
- (ii)
- When a player knocks on and an offside player of the same team next plays
the ball, a penalty for off-side should not be awarded unless the off-side
deprives the non-offending team of an advantage.
- (iii)
- A player can be off-side in his In-goal.
- (iv)
- If a player hands the ball to another player of his team in front of him,
the second player is offside. A scrummage for "accidental off-side" should be
awarded unless it is considered the player was willfully offside in which case a
penalty kick should be awarded.
- (v)
- The referee should whistle at once if an off-side player who cannot be
placed on-side charges within ten meters of an opponent waiting to receive the
ball. Delay may prove dangerous to the latter player.
Where there is no opponent waiting to play the ball but one
arrives as the ball pitches, an offside player who is near such opponent must
not obstruct or interfere with him in any way whatsoever before he is put
on-side.
- (vi)
- If an attacking player kicks the ball which is mis-fielded by an opponent
and the ball is then played by another attacking player in an offside position
within ten meters of the opponent, a penalty kick should be awarded.
- (vii)
- If an attacking player kicks the ball which is charged down by an opponent
and another attacking player within ten meters of the opponent then
plays the ball, play should be allowed to continue. The opponent was
not "waiting to play the ball" and the second attacking player is therefore
on-side under Law 25(2).
- (viii)
- Law 24A(2)(b) and (c) also
apply where the ball has struck a goal-post or cross-bar. Off-side players must
not approach or remain within ten meters of an opponent waiting to play the ball
or the place where the ball pitches.
B. Off-Side at Scrummage
The term "off-side line" means a line
parallel to the goal lines through the hindmost foot of the player's team in the
scrummage.
While a scrummage is forming or is taking place:-
- (1)
- A player is off-side if
- (a)
- he joins it from his opponents' side, or
- (b)
- he, not being in the scrummage nor the player of either team who puts the
ball in the scrummage,
- fails to retire behind the off-side line or to his goal line whichever is
the nearer, or
- places either foot in front of the offside line while the ball is in the
scrummage.
A player may leave a scrummage provided he retires immediately
behind the off-side line.
If he wishes to rejoin the scrummage, he must do so behind the ball.
He may not play the ball as it emerges between the feet of his front row if
he is in front of the off-side line.
- Exception:-
- The restrictions on leaving the scrummage in front of the off-side line do
not apply to a player taking part in "wheeling" a scrummage providing he
immediately plays the ball.
Notes:-
- (ix)
- Players must retire without delay to the scrummage off-side line when a Law
24 scrummage is forming. Loiterers must be penalized.
- (2)
- A player is offside if he, being the player of either team who puts the ball
in the scrummage, remains or places either foot in front of the ball while it is
in the scrummage.
- (3)
- A player is offside if he, being the immediate opponent of the player
putting in the ball, takes up a position on or moves to the opposite side of the
scrummage in front of the offside line.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick at the place of infringement.
U.S.A.R.F.U. Directive
No matter which team has put the ball into the scrummage, the scrum-half of
the team that does not have possession of the ball in the scrummage may not
advance, on the side of the scrummage opposite to where the ball was put in, in
front of the hindmost foot of his player in the scrummage.
Note:-
- (x)
- Any player of either team may at a particular scrummage be the player who
puts in the ball or who takes up position as scrum-half when his opponent is
putting in the ball; but such player is at that scrummage the only player of his
team who has the benefit of Law 24B(2).
C. Off-side at Ruck or Maul
The term "off-side line" means a line
parallel to the goal-lines through the hindmost foot of the player's team in the
ruck or maul.
(1) Ruck or Maul otherwise than at line-out
While a ruck or maul is
taking place (including a ruck or maul which continues after a line-out has
ended) a player is off-side if he:-
- (a)
- joins it from his opponents' side, or
- (b)
- joins it in front of the hindmost player of his team, or,
- (c)
- does not join the ruck or maul but fails to retire behind the off-side line
without delay, or
- (d)
- unbinds from the ruck or leaves the maul and does not
immediately retire behind the off-side line or once he is on
side, if he rejoins the ruck or maul in front of the hindmost player of his
team, or
- (e)
- advances beyond the off-side line with either foot and does not join the
ruck or maul.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick at the place of infringement.
I.R.F.B. Ruling
Whilst a ruck or maul is in progress:
- (a)
- A player not in the ruck or maul must retire without delay and must remain
behind the off-side line.
- (b)
- A player who unbinds from the ruck or leaves the maul must immediately
retreat behind the off-side line and may not rejoin the ruck or maul until he
has done so.
- (c)
- An on-side player may join or rejoin the ruck or maul, but must do so from
behind the off-side line and join on to the hindmost person(s). He may join
alongside, but not in front of the hindmost player(s).
(2) Ruck or Maul at Line-out
The term "participating in the
line-out" has the same meaning as in Section D of this Law. A
player participating in the line-out is not obliged to join or remain in the
ruck or maul and if he is not in the ruck or maul he continues to participate in
the line-out until it has ended.
While a line-out is in progress and a ruck or maul takes place, a player
is off-side if he:
- (a)
- joins the ruck or maul from his opponent's side, or
- (b)
- joins it in front of the hindmost player of his team, or
- (c)
- being a player who is participating in the lineout and is not in the ruck or
maul, does not retire to and remain at the off-side line defined in this Section, or
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touchline along the line-of-touch.
- (d)
- being a player who is not participating in the line-out, remains or advances
with either foot in front of the off-side line defined in Section
D of this Law.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick on the offending team's off-side line opposite the place of
infringement, but not less than fifteen meters from the touch line.
Note:-
- (xi)
- When the line-out has ended but the ruck or maul is still taking place, a
player is off-side if he infringes Section (1) of these
Laws.
D. Off-side at Line-out
The term "participating in the line-out"
refers exclusively to the following players:-
- those players who are in the line-out, and
- the player who throws in the ball, and
- his immediate opponent who may have the option of throwing in the ball, and
- one other player of either team who takes up position to receive the ball if
it is passed or knocked back from the line-out.
All other players are
not participating in the line-out.
The term "off-side line" means a line ten meters behind the line-of-touch and
parallel to the goal lines or, if the goal line be nearer than ten meters to the
line-of-touch, the "offside line" is the goal line.
Off-side while participating in line-out
- (1)
- A participating player is off-side if:-
- (a)
- before the ball has touched a player or the ground he
willfully remains or advances with either foot in front of the line-of-touch,
unless he advances while jumping for the ball, provided that the jump is made
from his side of the line-of-touch, or
- (b)
- after the ball has touched a player or the ground, if he is
not carrying the ball, he advances with either foot in front of the ball, unless
he is lawfully tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent who is participating
in the line-out. Such tackle or attempt to tackle must, however, start from his
side of the ball, or
- (c)
- before the line-out ends he moves beyond a position fifteen meters from the
touch line.
- Exception:-
- Players of the team throwing in the ball may move beyond a position fifteen
meters from the touch line for a long throw-in to them. They may do so only when
the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing it in and if they do so their
opponents participating in the line-out may follow them. If players so move and
the ball is not thrown to or beyond them they must be penalized for off-side.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touch line along the line-of-touch.
Notes:-
- (xii)
- Players who advance beyond the off-side line or who move beyond a position
fifteen meters from the touch line in the expectation of a long throw-in must be
penalized if for any reason, the ball is not thrown beyond that position.
- (xiii)
- A player jumping unsuccessfully for the ball who crosses the line-of-touch
should be given an opportunity to retire before being penalized.
- (xiv)
- The referee should be strict in dealing with those players who, while not
disputing possession of the ball in the line-out, advance to an offside position
whether intentionally or not.
- (2)
- The player throwing in the ball and his immediate opponent must:-
- (a)
- remain within five meters of the touch line, or
- (b)
- retire to the off-side line, or
- (c)
- join the line-out after the ball has been thrown in five meters, or
- (d)
- move into position to receive the ball if it is passed or knocked back from
the lineout provided no other player is occupying that position at that
line-out.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick fifteen meters from the touch line along the line of touch.
Note:-
- (xv)
- If a player other than the wing-threequarter throws in the ball from touch,
the wing-threequarter must retire to the off-side line, or join the line-out.
Off-side while not participating in line-out
- (3)
- A player who is not participating is off-side if before the line-out has
ended he advances or remains with either foot in front of the offside line.
- Exception:-
- Players of the team throwing in the ball who are not participating in the
line-out may advance for a long throw-in to them beyond the line-out. They may
do so only when the ball leaves the hands of the player throwing in the ball
and, if they do, their opponents may advance to meet them. If players so advance
for a long throw-in to them and the ball is not thrown to them they must be
penalized for offside.
Note:-
- (xvi)
- If a player not participating in the lineout is offside, the referee should
not whistle immediately if the opposing team is likely to gain an advantage. He
should apply the advantage law in all such cases.
Players returning to "on-side" position
- (4)
- A player is not obliged, before throwing in the ball, to wait until players
of his team have returned to or behind the line-out but such players are
off-side unless they return to an on-side position without
delay.
- Penalty:-
- Penalty kick on the offending team's offside line (as defined in Section D of this Law) opposite the place of infringement but not
less than fifteen meters from the touch line.
Note:-
- (xvii)
- Laws 24B, C, and D --
Offside at Scrummage, Ruck, Maul and Line-out -- Where these Laws state a line
which determines the off-side position such line stretches continuously from
touch line to touch line.
