SECTION 14

OFF SIDE

When off side 1. A player is off side except when he is in his own ingoal

if the ball touches, is touched, held or kicked, by

one of his own team behind him.

Out of Play 2. An off side player shall not take any part in the game

or attempt in any way to influence the course of the

game. He shall not encroach within ten metres of an

opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall

Retire ten metres immediately retire ten metres from any opponent

who first secures possession of the ball.

Placed onside 3. An off side player is placed onside if:

(a) an opponent moves ten metres or more with the

ball.

(b) an opponent touches the ball without retaining it.

(c) one of his own team in possession of the ball

runs in front of him.

(d) one of his own team kicks or knocks the ball

forward and takes up a position in front of him in

the field of play.

(e) he retires behind the point where the ball was last

touched by one of his own team.

NOTES

Catcher claiming 1. A player who catches the ball near an off side opponent must

off side not go out of his way to make interference in play by the

offside player unavoidable. He should proceed with normal

play and rely on the Referee to penalise the off side player if

the latter interferes with play. If the catcher deliberately and

unnecessarily runs into the off side player then play should

proceed.

Accidental off side Where the Referee is satisfied that interference with play by

an off side player is accidental he should order a scrum.

Interfering with 2. Any off side player who remains within ten metres of an

Catcher opponent who is set to catch a kick up field by an opposing

player shall be deemed to be interfering with or attempting to

interfere with the catcher and shall be penalised unless the

non-offending team gains an immediate advantage.

“Out of Play” as 3. Players who are out of play at a play-the-ball (Section 11), a

opposed to “off side” scrum (Section 12), a kick off or drop-out (Section 8) a

penalty kick (Section 13) or a free kick (Section 13) are not

put “on side” in the manner described in para 3 above. (See

appropriate Sections).

“Down town” Any player who is in front of the kicker in general play is not

permitted to advance beyond the point of the previous playthe-

ball until the ball has gone past the off side players. This

rule delays the movement of the off side players downfield in

an attempt to encircle the ball receiver as he collects the ball.

 

 

Example of offside 3. (e)

 

player retrieving ball

Player A kicks the ball and

opponent B attempts to catch it.

He drops the ball which rolls

behind him. His colleague C

who was originally in front of

him drops back to retrieve the

ball. When he gets to it he is

behind the point at which it was

played by B, indicated by the

line XY, and is not off side.

 

Player A kicks the ball and

opponent B fails to catch it, the

ball bouncing forward off his

hands. Player C is off side if he

plays the ball unless B advances

in front of the ball before C

reaches it, in which case a scrum

would be ordered for a knock-on.