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21 In-goal
- The ball can be grounded in in-goal:
- By holding it and touching the ground with it; or
- By pressing down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck.
- Picking up a ball is not grounding it. A player may pick up the ball in in-goal and ground it elsewhere in in-goal.
- An attacking player grounding the ball in in-goal scores a try.
- When an attacking player holding the ball grounds the ball in in-goal and simultaneously makes contact with the touch-in-goal line or the dead-ball line (or anywhere beyond either), a 22-metre drop-out is awarded to the defending team.
- When the ball-carrier grounds the ball in in-goal and simultaneously makes contact with the touch line (or the ground beyond), the ball is in touch in the field of play and a lineout is awarded to the opposition.
- A defending player grounding the ball in in-goal results in a touch down.
- If a tackled player has momentum that carries them into their own in-goal area, they can make a touch down.
- A tackled player near their own goal line may reach out and ground the ball in in-goal to make a touch down, provided it is done immediately. Sanction: Penalty.
- If a defending player grounds the ball against a goal post or its surrounding padding, the result is a touch down.
- If a player is in touch or touch-in-goal, they can make a touch down or score a try by grounding the ball in in-goal provided they are not holding the ball.
- If a tackled player is in the act of reaching out to ground the ball for a try or touch down, players may pull the ball from the player’s possession but must not kick or attempt to kick the ball. Sanction: Penalty.
- If a team kicks the ball through their opponents’ in-goal from the field of play into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-ball line, the defending team can choose:
- To have a drop-out anywhere on or behind the 22-metre line; or
- To have a scrum at the place where the ball was kicked.
- If any part of a defending player is in in-goal, that player is considered to be in in-goal, provided they are not also in touch or on or over the dead-ball line.
- If a player, who is in in-goal, catches or picks up a ball that is still in the field of play, that player has taken the ball into in-goal.
- If a player who is on or beyond the dead-ball-line, or who is in touch-in-goal, catches or picks up a ball within in-goal, that player has made the ball dead.
- If the ball or ball-carrier touches a corner flag or corner flag post without otherwise being in touch or touch-in-goal, play continues unless the ball is grounded against the post.
- When a player carrying the ball is held up in the in-goal so that the player cannot ground or play the ball, the ball is dead. Play restarts with a five-metre scrum, in line with the place where the player was held up. The attacking team throws in.
- If there is doubt about which team first grounded the ball in in-goal, play is restarts with a five-metre scrum, in line with the place where the ball was grounded. The attacking team throws in.
Grounding the ball
Grounding the ball
Ball kicked dead through in-goal
Exception: An unsuccessful kick at goal or attempted dropped goal. In these cases, the defending team restarts with a 22-metre drop-out.
Defending player in in-goal
Corner flag post
Player touches corner post before ball is grounded
Ball held up in-goal
Doubt about grounding
