Law 14. Ball on the Ground - No Tackle
| DEFINITION
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| This
situation occurs when the ball is available on the ground and a player
goes to ground to gather the ball, except immediately after a scrum or a
ruck.
It also occurs when a player is on the ground in possession of the ball and has not been tackled. The game is to be played by players who are on their feet. A player must not make the ball unplayable by falling down. Unplayable means that the ball is not immediately available to either team so that play may continue. A player who makes the ball unplayable, or who obstructs the opposing team by falling down, is negating the purpose and spirit of the game and must be penalised. A player who is not tackled, but who goes to ground while holding the ball, or a player who goes to ground and gathers the ball, must act immediately.
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| 1
PLAYER ON THE GROUND
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| The
player must immediately do one of three things:
Get up with the ball, or Pass the ball, or Release the ball. A player who passes or releases the ball must also get up or move away from it at once. Advantage is played only if it happens immediately. Penalty: Penalty Kick
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| 2
WHAT THE PLAYER MUST NOT DO
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| (a)
Lying on or around the ball. A player must not lie on or near the ball to
prevent opponents getting possession of it. PK
(b) Falling over the player on the ground with the ball. A player must not voluntarily fall on or over a player with the ball who is lying on the ground. PK (c) Falling over players lying on the ground near the ball. A player must not voluntarily fall on or over players lying on the ground with the ball between them or near them. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick
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| DEFINITION
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| Near
is within 1 metre.
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