Law 15. Tackle: Ball-Carrier brought to the Ground
| DEFINITION
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| A
tackle occurs when a ball-carrier in a standing position is simultaneously
held by one or more opponents and is brought to the ground and/or the ball
touches the ground.
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| 1
TACKLE - WHERE
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| A
tackle can only take place in the field-of-play.
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| 2
WHEN A TACKLE CANNOT TAKE PLACE
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| When
the ball-carrier is held by one opponent and a team-mate binds on to that
ball-carrier, a maul has been formed and a tackle cannot take place.
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| 3
BROUGHT TO THE GROUND DEFINED
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| (a)
If the ball-carrier has one knee or both knees on the ground, that player
has been 'brought to ground'.
(b) If the ball-carrier is sitting on the ground, or on top of another player on the ground the ball carrier has been 'brought to ground'.
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| 4
LIFTING A BALL CARRIER FROM THE GROUND
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| A
ball-carrier who is lifted off the ground by an opponent is not tackled
and play continues.
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| 5
THE TACKLED PLAYER
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| (a)
A tackled player must try to make the ball available immediately so that
play can continue. PK
(b) A tackled player must immediately pass the ball or release it. That player must also get up or move away from it at once. PK (c) A tackled player may release the ball by putting it on the ground in any direction, provided this is done immediately. PK (d) A tackled player may release the ball by pushing it along the ground in any direction except forward, provided this is done immediately. PK (e) If a tackled player's momentum carries the player into the In-goal, the player can score a try or make a touch down. PK (f) If players are tackled near to the goal-line, these players may immediately reach out and ground the ball on or over the goal-line to score a try or make a touch down. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick (g) The tackled player must not place the ball in touch. The tackled player must not push the ball into touch. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick on the 15 metre line.
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| 6
THE TACKLER
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| (a)
When a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler
must immediately release the tackled player. PK
(b) The tackler must immediately get up or move away from the tackled player and from the ball at once. PK (c) The tackler must get up before playing the ball. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick
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| 7
AFTER A TACKLE
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| (a)
After a tackle, all other players must be on their feet when they play the
ball. Players are on their feet if no other part of their body is
supported by the ground or players on the ground. PK
(b) After a tackle, any player lying on the ground must not prevent an opponent from getting possession of the ball. PK (c) After a tackle, any player on the ground must not tackle an opponent or try to tackle an opponent. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick Exception: Ball goes into the in-goal. After a tackle near the goal-line, if the ball has been released and has gone into the in-goal any player, including a player on the ground, may ground the ball.
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| 8
FORBIDDEN PRACTICES
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| (a)
No player may prevent the tackled player from passing the ball. PK
(b) No player may prevent the tackled player from releasing the ball and getting up or moving away from it. PK (c) No player may pull the ball from the tackled player before the tackled player has released it. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick Exception: An opponent may legally pull the ball from the hands or arms of a tackled player who is reaching out to ground the ball on or over the goal-line, but the opponent must not kick the ball. (d) No player may fall on or over the tackled player. PK (e) No player may fall on or over the players lying on the ground after a tackle with the ball between or near to them. PK (f) Players on their feet must not charge or obstruct an opponent who is not near the ball. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick (g) Danger: Failure to pass or release. Danger may arise if a tackled player fails to release the ball or move away from it immediately, or if that player is prevented from so doing. If either of these happens the referee awards a penalty kick immediately. PK Penalty: Penalty Kick
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| 9
DOUBT ABOUT FAILURE TO COMPLY
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| If
the ball becomes unplayable at a tackle and there is doubt about which
player did not conform to law, the referee orders a scrum immediately with
the throw-in by the team that was moving forward prior to the stoppage or,
if no team was moving forward, by the attacking team.
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