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Encyclopedia > Offside (rugby)

Contents


The offside rule in Rugby Union

Offside rules in Rugby Union are particularly complex to the casual observer. Often the only indication that they have been infringed occurs when the referee blows the whistle. This, therefore, is only a basic attempt to explain offside in the context of rugby union. Rugby union (often referred to as just rugby, or union) is a variant of rugby football. ...


In open play, when a side is in possession, a player is offside if they are in front of the ball carrier. This means that they cannot receive any passes (because such a pass would be a forward pass), and they cannot receive a kick (because kick receivers must be behind or level with the kicker when the ball is kicked). If offside players do participate in the game, for example by playing the ball or obstructing an opponent (by loitering) then their team will be penalised - in the case of a forward pass, it is a scrum, and in the case of an offsidely received kick, an accidental offside yields a scrum, but otherwise it is a penalty. In American and Canadian football, a forward pass — usually called simply a pass — is a throwing of the football from a member of the team in possession of the ball to another member of the same team who is closer to that teams goal. ... A rugby union scrum In rugby football, a scrummage or scrum is a way of restarting the game, either after an accidental infringement (a set scrum, in rugby union and rugby league), or when the ball has gone into touch (in rugby league only). ...


In any other part of play (scrums, rucks, mauls or line-out), players are offside if they are in front of the off-side line. This is an imaginary line parallel to the goals which runs through the hindmost foot of the hindmost player in the ruck/maul/scrum. Any players joining a ruck/maul or scrum from in front of the off-side line is offside and their team will be penalised. Ruck can refer to a contest for possession in different forms of football. ... A rugby lineout A line-out is Rugby unions equivalent of the throw-in in football (soccer). ... A rugby union scrum In rugby football, a scrummage or scrum is a way of restarting the game, either after an accidental infringement (a set scrum, in rugby union and rugby league), or when the ball has gone into touch (in rugby league only). ...


At a lineout only players in the line (normally 7 per team), both scrum halves and both hookers are allowed within 10 metres of the line. The remaining players must be more that 10 metres away from the line or they will be penalised. They may only move after the ball or a player carrying it leaves the lineout in any direction. A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. ... A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. ...


The offside rule in Rugby League

A defending player is offside if he is closer than 10m to the play-the-ball (or, if the play-the-ball is inside his 10m line, closer to it than the try-line is) when the ball is played. He is also offside if during open play he is closer to the opposition's try-line than the ball.


An attacking player is offside if he is in front of the ball: if he is in front of a ball which is then kicked, he can be put onside if the kicker subsequently moves ahead of him before the ball is caught. If not, he must stand 10m away from the player who catches the ball (as if he were the acting half-back at a play-the-ball) or be penalised.


See also

A rugby lineout A line-out is Rugby unions equivalent of the throw-in in football (soccer). ... In rugby football, the penalty is the main disciplinary sanction available to the referee to penalise players who commit deliberate infringements. ... A rugby union scrum In rugby football, a scrummage or scrum is a way of restarting the game, either after an accidental infringement (a set scrum, in rugby union and rugby league), or when the ball has gone into touch (in rugby league only). ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Offside (rugby) - definition of Offside (rugby) in Encyclopedia (411 words)
Offside rules in Rugby Union are particularly complex to the casual observer.
A defending player is offside if he is closer than 10m to the play-the-ball (or, if the play-the-ball is inside his 10m line, closer to it than the try-line is) when the ball is played.
An attacking player is offside if he is in front of the ball: if he is in front of a ball which is then kicked, he can be put onside if the kicker subsequently moves ahead of him before the ball is caught.
Offside law (football) (639 words)
A player is in an offside position if he is in his opponents' half and has fewer than two opposing players (including the goalkeeper) between himself and the opposition goal line (these players would be playing him onside), unless the ball is also between him and the goal line.
The offside rule means a player who is offside is committing a foul, unless he is deemed to be not interfering with play (eg, on the other side of the pitch and consequently unable to receive a pass).
The offside rule is often cited in the UK as something women are unable to understand.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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