Southern California Rugby Referees Society

Law 22: In-Goal Definitions

In-goal is part of the ground as defined in Law 1 where the ball may be grounded by players from either team.

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22.1 (b) Player presses down on the ball

A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the player’s body from waist to neck inclusive.

22.1 (a) Player touches the ground with the ball

A player grounds the ball by holding the ball and touching the ground with it, in in-goal. ‘Holding’ means holding in the hand or hands, or in the arm or arms. No downward pressure is required.

22.2 Picking up the ball

Picking up the ball from the ground is not grounding it. A player may pick up the ball in the in-goal and ground it elsewhere in the in-goal.

22.3 Ball grounded by an attacking player

Try. When an attacking player who is onside is first to ground the ball in the opponents’ ingoal, the player scores a try. This applies whether an attacking or a defending player is responsible for the ball being in the in-goal.