SECTION 2

GLOSSARY

The terms set out below shall have the meanings assigned to them.

ACCIDENTAL when a ball strikes a player who makes no attempt

STRIKE to play at the ball.

ADVANTAGE allowing the advantage means allowing play to proceed

if it is to the advantage of the team which has not

committed an offence or infringement.

ATTACKING is the team which at the time has a territorial advantage.

TEAM If a scrum is to be formed on the halfway line the team

which last played at the ball before it went out of play is

the attacking team.

BACK as applied to a player means one who is not taking part

in the scrum.

BALL BACK means to form a scrum from where the ball was kicked

after it has entered touch on the full.

BEHIND when applied to a player means, unless otherwise

stated, that both feet are behind the position in question.

Similarly “in front” implies “with both feet”. When

applied to a position on the field of play, “behind” means

nearer to one’s own goal line than the point in question.

Similarly “in front of” means nearer to one’s opponents’

goal line.

BLIND SIDE means the side of the scrum or of the play-the-ball nearer

to touch (cf.open side).

CHARGING- is blocking the path of the ball with hands, arm or body

DOWN as it rises from an opponent’s kick.

CONVERTING is the act of kicking a goal following the scoring of

A TRY a try.

CORNER POST is a post placed at the intersection of each touch line and

goal line. The post shall be of non-rigid material and

shall be not less than 1.25m. high. The corner posts are

in touch in-goal.

DEAD BALL means that the ball is out of play.

DEFENDING is the team opposing the attacking team

TEAM (see above).

DIFFERENTIAL differs in one respect from a Penalty Kick in that a goal

PENALTY cannot be scored from it.

DROP GOAL sometimes referred to as a Field Goal, is a goal scored

by propelling the ball on the full, over the crossbar, by

drop kicking it.

DROP KICK is a kick whereby the ball is dropped from the hands (or

hand) and is kicked immediately it rebounds from the

ground.

DROP-OUT means a drop kick from between the posts or from the

centre of the 20m line when bringing the ball back into play.

DUMMY is the pretence of passing or otherwise releasing the ball

while still retaining possession of it.

FIELD OF PLAY is the area bounded by, but not including, the touch

lines and goal lines.

FORWARD means in a direction towards the opponents’ dead ball

line. As applied to a player it means one who is at the

time packing down in the scrum.

FORWARD PASS is a throw towards the opponents’ dead ball line (see

Section 10).

FOUL PLAY refers to the types of Misconduct specified in Section 15

– Law 1(a) (b) (c) and (d).

FREE KICK is the kick awarded to a team which kicks into touch

from a penalty kick. The kick is taken 10 metres in from

touch opposite the point of entry into touch and the ball

may be kicked in any manner in any direction. A goal

cannot be scored from it, nor can ground be gained by

kicking into touch on the full.

FULL TIME means the end of the game.

GENERAL PLAY refers to all aspects of play after a match has been

started or re-started by a Place Kick, Drop-Out, Penalty

Kick, Free Kick or Scrum.

GOAL see Section 6.

GROUNDING means (a) placing the ball on the ground with hand or

THE BALL hands or

(b) exerting a downward pressure on the ball

with hand or arm, the ball itself being on the

ground or

(c) dropping on the ball and covering it with the

part of the body above the waist and below

the neck, the ball itself being on the ground.

HALF TIME means the end of the first half of the game.

HANDOVER is the surrendering of the ball to the opposition after a

team has been tackled the statutory number of

successive times (Section 11 Law 7).

HEEL is when a player propels the ball behind him with the

sole or heel of his foot.

HOOK is the act of the hooker when he strikes with a foot for

the ball in the scrum.

IN-GOAL see Plan (Section 1).

IN POSSESSION means to be holding or carrying the ball.

KICK means imparting motion to the ball with any part of the

leg (except the heel) from knee to toe inclusive.

KICK OFF see Section 8.

KNOCK-ON means to knock the ball towards the opponents’ dead

ball line with hand or arm, while playing at the ball.

LOOSE ARM is an offence by the hooker if he packs with one arm

loose in the scrum.

LOOSE BALL is when during play the ball is not held by a player and

not being scrummaged.

LOOSE HEAD refers to the front row forward in the scrum who is

nearest to the referee.

MARK is the point at which a penalty kick or free kick is

awarded or a scrum is formed.

OBSTRUCTION is the illegal act of impeding an opponent who does not

have the ball.

OFF SIDE as applied to a player means that he is temporarily out of

play and may be penalised if he joins in the game (see

Section 14.)

ON SIDE means that a player is not off side.

ON THE FULL means the ball is kicked over a given line without first

bouncing.

OPTIONAL KICK is the kick to be taken from the 20m restart. The kick can

be taken in any manner and kicked in any direction. It is

in play from the moment it is kicked.

OPEN SIDE means the side of the scrum or the play-the-ball further

from touch (cf.Blind Side).

PACK refers collectively to the forwards of any one team. To

pack down means to form a scrum.

PASS is a throw of the ball from one player to another.

PENALISE is to award a penalty kick against an offending player.

PENALTY KICK see Section 13.

PLACE KICK is to kick the ball after it has been placed on the ground

for that purpose.

PLAYING AREA is the area enclosed by the fence, or other such line of

demarcation, which prevents the encroachment of

spectators.

PLAYING FIELD is the area bounded by, but not including, the touch

lines and dead ball lines.

PLAY-THE-BALL is the act of bringing the ball into play after a tackle.

(See Section 11).

PROP is the front row forward in each team nearest to the

scrum half who is putting the ball into the scrum.

PUNT is a kick whereby the ball is dropped from the hand or

hands and is kicked before it touches the ground.

PUT-IN (also is the rolling of the ball into the scrum.

known as FEEDING

THE SCRUM)

REBOUND see Accidental Strike

RICHOCET see Accidental Strike

RUCK is the area, at the play-the-ball, between the player

playing the ball and the marker.

SCRUM or Scrummage or Scrimmage (see Section 12). Where a

team loses the advantages of the “Loose Head” and

“Put-in” the scrum is said to be awarded against that

team.

STRIKE as applied to the foot means to attempt to secure

possession of the ball in a scrum.

TACKLE See Section 11.

TOUCH DOWN is the grounding of the ball by a defending player in his

own in-goal.

TOUCH IN-GOAL See Section 9.

TRY See Section 6.

UPRIGHT is where the player in possession is effectively tackled

TACKLE without being brought to the ground (see Section 11).

VOLUNTARY is where the player in possession voluntarily stops play

TACKLE when not effectively tackled. (See Section 11).

ZERO TACKLE Where a breach occurs and possession changes hands,

the following tackle will be a zero tackle notwithstanding

that the team gaining possession may have gained a

territorial advantage.