INTERNATIONAL RULE GUIDE

The following rule guides are applicable in the state of Queensland and may vary from different states.

START OF THE MATCH

Two captains toss the coin in the presence of the referee.  The home team toss, the opposition calls. If a neutral ground either, first team on the field or the referees choice toss the coin.

The winning captain chooses only which end he is to defend for the first half.

The losing captain starts the game by kicking off.

The team who kicks off is deemed to be the attacking team.

THE KICK OFF

THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE AT ALL RESTARTS OF PLAY. This includes kick offs,    20m place kicks and both goal line and 20m drop kicks.

At a kick off the ball must do all of the following-                

1. Be placed kicked

2. Go 10m in a forward direction.

3. Land in the playing field.

The kicking team must remain behind the ball. Whilst the receiving team must allow the ball to travel 10m, they also must retire 10m towards their own goal line.

If this does not occur or a breach occurs, a penalty kick results at the centre of the half way line.

A goal may not be scored from a kick off. If the ball goes between the uprights and across the crossbar and : 

1. Goes out on the full - a Penalty results at the centre of the half way line.

2. Bounces and goes out after being touched/not being touched by a defender - a goal line drop kick results at the centre of the goal line.

DROP KICK RESTARTS

Must do the following                

1. Drop kick the ball from centre of goal line.

2. Must be kicked 10m in a forward direction.

3. Must land in the playing field.

Players on the kicking team must remain on or behind the goal line. Whilst the opposition must retire 10m towards their own goal line.

Infringements result in a penalty kick 10m out in front of the goal posts. (or centre of goal line)

Drop kicks result from                

1. A defending player accidentally infringes in his own ingoal.

(ie. knock on or tackled ingoal)

2. A defending player runs into a referee, spectator, dog etc. and play is irregularly effected.

3. Ball is kicked dead after bouncing in the field from a kick off.

4. A defending player forces the ball in his own in goal.

5. A defending player kicks the ball into touch on the full from his own in goal area.

KICKS AT GOAL

Conversions, penalty kicks at goal or drop kicks at goal in general play must go between the uprights and across the crossbar to be successful and score points. If a penalty kick is touched by a defending player prior to it crossing the crossbar then no goal results. Restart the game with a drop goal if the ball went dead.

If a field goal is touched in flight but is still successful, then the drop goal is awarded.

20M RESTART OF PLAY

Result when the attacking player makes the ball dead in his opponents ingoal area.

Some examples are          

1. Knocks on ingoal.

2. Kicks the ball dead/touch in goal, or the ball last touches an attacking player before going over either the dead ball line or touch in goal line.

3. A defending player, ingoal, catches a kick from general play on the full.

20 metre optional free kicks may be taken in any fashion ie. a free kick - any type of kick.

Players on the kicking side must retire behind the 20m line, whilst the opposition must retire 10m towards their own goal line. The kick when taken must land in the playing area else a penalty will result.

 If a penalty is to be awarded at this restart because of a breach by either the kicking or non kicking team then the penalty is given at the centre of the 20m line.

20M DROP KICKS

Only result when a ball is kicked dead without being touched by a defending player from a penalty kick. Kicks at this restart of play are as for a “Goal Line Drop Kick”. However, penalties are given at the centre of the 20m line for any infringements. (as per 20m Place Kick).

 Any kicking team that finds touch after a restart of play (not on the full) shall be awarded a scrum 20 metres in from where the ball first crossed the touch line. In these cases the kicking team shall be given both the loose and the feed.