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New line-out law clarification

New line-out law clarification

Paul Macmillan6 Sep 2014 - 07:25
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See below for a law clarification when a team doesn't contest the line-out...

Line out
IRB clarification for teams choosing not to engage at the lineout

 if the defenders in the line out choose to not engage the line out drive by "leaving the line out as a group", PK to attacking team;
 if the defenders in the line out choose to not engage the line out drive by simply opening up a gap & "creating space" & not leaving the line out, the following process would be followed:

- attackers would need to keep the ball with the front player, if they were to drive down-field (therefore play on, general play - defenders could either engage to form a maul, or tackle the ball carrier only);
- if they had immediately passed it back to the player at the rear of the "group",
the referee would tell them to "use it" which they must do immediately...
- if they drove forward with the ball at the back (did not release the ball), the referee would award a scrum for "accidental offside" rather than PK for obstruction.

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