Law discussion: Kicking the ball out of play

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson analyses the laws around kicking the ball beyond the dead-ball line.

From the match at Newlands between the Stormers and the Hurricanes, there are three occasions when the ball was kicked dead, twice from penalties and once from general play.

Incident 1:  58 minutes into the game

The Stormers’ are penalised near the half-way line and Jordie Barrett of Hurricanes kicks for the touchline on his right. He overkicks the ball which goes into touch-in-goal, i.e. between the corner post and the corner of the dead-ball line.

The result is a scrum at the half-way line, Stormers’ ball.

Incident 2: 70 minutes into the game

The Hurricanes are penalised in the Hurricanes’ half and Damien Willemse of the Stormers kicks for the touchline on his left. He overkicks the ball which goes into touch-in-goal, i.e. between the corner post and the corner of the dead-ball line.

The result is a drop-out to the Hurricanes.

Incident 3 : 73 minutes into the game

James Booth of the Hurricanes has a long run deep in Stormers’ territory. He seems on the way to scoring a try when he kicks ahead. The ball rolls into in-goal and eventually over the dead-ball line.

The results is a drop-out to the Stormers.

Look to the law.

Law 21 BALL KICKED DEAD THROUGH IN-GOAL
12. 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.
Exception: An unsuccessful kick at goal or attempted dropped goal. In these cases, the defending team restarts with a 22-metre drop-out.

Incident 1: The Stormers opted for the scrum where Barrett kicked the ball.
Incident 2: The Hurricanes opted for the drop-out.
Incident 3: The Stormers opted for the drop-out.

Each incident was correctly refereed.