User:LunarLander/Laws of rugby league

The laws of rugby league, officially the Laws of the Game, are the laws governing the game of rugby league football. The Laws apply to the play, officiating, equipment and procedures of the sport. The Laws are the responsibility of the Rugby League International Federation.

Rugby league governing bodies are permitted to vary the Laws for use in their own competitions. This allows countries to cater for their own "priorities, competitors and opportunities", while avoiding the the hindrance of progress that a necessity for international agreement may cause. In the past, "pre-tour agreements" between opponents have been employed to deal with differences.

International rugby competitions, including the World Cup, are often played under rules that differ from the official Laws.

The Laws have undergone significant changes since pioneers of the sport broke away from the Rugby football establishment in 1895. Sean Fagan, a rugby league historian, describes the sport as a "constantly evolving animal, particularly with professional coaches, [with which] the rules have to keep pace".

Laws
The current Laws of the Game and Notes on the Laws are set out in 17 sections:
 * Section 1: Playing Field
 * Section 2: Glossary
 * Section 3: Ball
 * Section 4: Player and Players' Equipment
 * Section 5: Mode of Play
 * Section 6: Scoring
 * Section 7: Timekeeping
 * Section 8: Kick-off and Drop-out
 * Section 9: Touch and Touch in-Goal
 * Section 10: Knock-on and Forward Pass
 * Section 11: Tackle and Play-the-Ball
 * Section 12: Scrum
 * Section 13: Penalty Kick
 * Section 14: Offside
 * Section 15: Misconduct
 * Section 16: Referee and Touch Judges
 * Section 17: Referee's Signals

The current 17 sections, which include notes, are detailed in fewer than 50 pages and around 17,000 words. The Laws are further clarified through practice and the enforcement by referees of rulings and guidelines issued by their governing bodies. These guidelines, and the referees themselves, may utilise the flexible provisions of the Laws to officiate the Game without the need to amend the Laws, for example Section 15, Law 1 (i) allows a judgement of misconduct to be made against a player for behaviour "in any way contrary to the true spirit of the game". That law was used to combat the incidence of chicken-wing tackling techniques, for example.

Citation
To cite the Laws of the Game and Notes on the Laws published for rugby league football, the following formats have been used: When citing previous versions of the Laws of the Game it is helpful to note the date of publication.
 * Australian Rugby League (used in this article): Section, Law (paragraph if applicable), for example the Law banning voluntary tackles is "Section 11, Law 4".
 * Rugby Football League: "Law: 11.4".

Origin
The rules of football as played at Rugby School in the 19th century were decided regularly and informally by the pupils. In 1845 three pupils at the school, William Delafield Arnold, W.W. Shirley and Frederick Hutchins were tasked with writing a codified set of rules. The three pupils submitted 37 rules which were approved on 28 August 1845.

In 1871, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded with the purpose of standardising the rules. In June of that year the first Laws of the Game were approved. In 1884, there was a dispute over the rules between the English and Scottish unions after a match between the two countries; this led to the formation of the International Rugby Football Board in 1886 with the intention of settling such disputes. The RFU refused to join and in 1887 the members of the new organisation, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, stated that no matches would be played against England until the RFU joined and accepted its rules. In 1890 the RFU joined and in 1892 a significant revision of the laws took place.

Rugby league
From 1895, the laws of rugby league were initially referred to as "Northern Union" rules, after the new governing body, and were a slight variation on the rules of rugby football as played at that time. What began as modifications to make the competition more entertaining to spectators continued until a distinct sport had emerged.

Initially the rules were decided by the Northern Rugby Football Union, today's Rugby Football League, the governing body for rugby league in the United Kingdom. As the sport spread to around the world, other rugby leagues were established, notably in Australia, France and New Zealand, a more international approach was adopted. In 1948, the International Rugby League Board (IRLB) was formed. The IRLB was invested with responsibility for the Laws.

During the Super League war, a dispute over media rights and the control of the game emanating in Australia, the laws of rugby league were altered by the rival factions, the IRLB and its only remaining member, the Australian Rugby League, and the Super League International Board and its members.

Since 1998 when the different sides reunited, the Laws have been the responsibility of the Rugby League International Federation.

List of changes to the Laws
The Northern Rugby Football Union inherited the existing laws of rugby football, as played until that time by its member clubs. The NRFU immediately made changes. In addition to the time before 1948 when an international governing body was established, members of the International Federation and its predecessors have had the authority to make significant changes to the Laws applied within their purview.

The following is an incomplete list of changes made to the laws of rugby league since the 1895 schism. Changes to the laws used for senior competitions within the jurisdictions of RLIF members with test nation status are included here.

Additional detail: Included are the flags or icons of the territory affected as well as the name of the governing body responsible and a link to the first season the change was implemented in senior competition(s) by that body. If a Law has since been changed, the Law's current status will be marked as "abolished", "repealed", "amended", "Interpretation changed", "restored" or "replaced", and a link to the year of the change in this article.

1890s
1895:

NRFU Implemented: 1895-96 Northern Rugby Football Union season.
 * A penalty would now be awarded for a deliberate knock-on. Replaced: NRFU, 1902.

1897:

NRFU Implemented: 1897-98 Northern Rugby Football Union season.
 * The line-out was abolished and replaced with the punt-out to re-start play after the ball had gone into touch. Replaced: NRFU, 1902.
 * The value of a drop goal was reduced from four points to two points. Amended: NSWRFL, 1971.
 * The value of a penalty goal was reduced from three points to two points.
 * The value of a goal from mark was reduced from four points to two points. Abolished: NSWRFL, 1922.

1900s
1902:

NRFU Implemented: 1902-03 Northern Rugby Football Union season.
 * The punt-out was replaced by a scrum on the 10 yard line. Amended: NSWRFL, 1964.

1906:

NRFU Implemented: 1906-07 Northern Rugby Football Union season.
 * The play-the-ball rule was introduced. Previously after each tackle had been completed or a player had been "held" the rules mandated that a scrum be ordered by the referee. These scrums had taken up a significant portion of game time and it was felt that the ball was hidden from spectators too often as a result, diminishing the game's entertainment value. The play-the-ball restored the early rugby football principle that play does not carry on when the player is no longer standing, but that a tackle is complete when a player is "held" on the ground or while on their feet. The Yorkshire Post commented on 13 June 1906 that the proposals, "provided in effect for a return to the 'play the ball' rule". In New Zealand, a newspaper column in The Truth on 10 November 1906 while describing the sport to its readers wrote, "the most excellent rule, that was obliterated from the earlier laws of the Union has again been introduced, 'That a player, when collared, must put the ball into play'." Amended: NSWRFL, 1926; RFL, 1927.
 * The number of players on each team was reduced from fifteen to thirteen.
 * If a ball was kicked out of play on the full, a scrum back where it had been kicked from would now be formed.

1909:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1909 NSWRFL season.
 * Teams were restricted from placing more than three players in the front row of a scrum; the other rows remained unrestricted. Amended: NSWRFL, 1930.

1920s
1920:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1920 NSWRFL season.
 * A scrum-half was now required to feed the ball into the scrum.

1922:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1922 NSWRFL season.
 * The goal from mark after a fair catch was abolished.
 * The 'field goal', which could be scored in open play with a "soccer-style" kick between the posts, was abolished.

1926:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1926 NSWRFL season.
 * The goal-line drop-out replaced drop-outs from the 25-yard line after the ball was played dead by a defender.
 * A new version of the play-the-ball was created which consisted of two players from each team. The ball was contested by only the defending marker and tackled player who was playing the ball, he marker was required to keep both feet on the ground until the ball was dropped or placed.  The other two players stood ready act as halfback should their teammate win the contest. Amended: ARL, 1997.

1927:

RFL Implemented: 1927-28 Northern Rugby Football League season.
 * Play-the-ball rules were amended for the 1927–28 season with the 1926 Australian development in which the play-the-ball consisted of two defensive markers, the tackled player and the acting half-back. Amended: RFL, 1996.

1930s
1931:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1931 NSWRFL season.
 * The defending halfback would now feed the scrum, while the attacking side would have the loose-head. Previously, the player that fed the scrum had been the attacking halfback. Amended: NSWRFL, 1982.
 * It became mandatory for each team's forwards to pack-down into the scrum in a 3-2-1 formation.
 * Scrums now had to be set a minimum of 10 yards from the touch line and a minimum of 5 yards from goal line.
 * Players who were off-side at the time of the play-the-ball would now be penalised if they did not make an attempt to get on on-side and interfere with or obstruct an opposing player.

1932:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1932 NSWRFL season.
 * A loose-arm rule is introduced, hookers must now place both arms over the props next to them.
 * The penalty was changed to allow a team awarded one to have the option of having a scrum rather than a 'free kick'.

1940s
1948:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1948 NSWRFL season.
 * The opposing front rows in a scrum were prevented from packing down against each other until ordered to do so by the referee.

1950s
1951:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1951 NSWRFL season.
 * A five-yard ruck rule was introduced and applied to both teams, previously there had been a 'no-yard' ruck rule. This rule change lasted just one season. Amended: NSWRFL, 1952.

1952:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1952 NSWRFL season.
 * The no-yard ruck rule was reinstated. Amended: NSWRFL, 1956.
 * The dummy-half and second-marker were required to stand one yard behind the two men contesting the play-the-ball. Abolished: NSWRFL, 1956.

1954:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1954 NSWRFL season.
 * The tap penalty was introduced. Abolished: NSWRFL, 1959.
 * A team conceding a penalty was required to retire 10 yards.

1956:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1956 NSWRFL season.
 * A three-yard ruck rule replaced the no-yard ruck rule and was applicable to both teams.  Amended: NSWRFL, 1966.
 * No minimum distance replaced the one-yard minimum that the dummy-half and second-marker had previously had to stand behind their teammates contesting the play-the-ball.

1959:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1959 NSWRFL season.
 * The tap penalty was abolished. Restored: NSWRFL, 1967.

1960s
1961:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1961 NSWRFL season.
 * If a dummy-half ran with the ball and was tackled there would be a scrum. Repealed: NSWRFL, 1963.

1963:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1963 NSWRFL season.
 * The rule that a dummy-half caught with ball would result in a scrum was rescinded. Dummy-half runs were now unrestricted.
 * The ball leaving the scrum was required to come out behind the second-rowers.
 * The non-offending team would now be given the loose-head and feed at a scrum resulting from a penalty, this included after the team had kicked into touch. Amended: NSWRFL, 1967.
 * Teams were allowed to replace a maximum of two injured players during the first half of a match and including halftime. Amended: NSWRFL, 1970.

1964:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1964 NSWRFL season.
 * Scrums would now be set a minimum of 10 yards from the goal-line.
 * A place kick from the halfway line was used for the kick-off restarting play after an unconverted try.
 * A penalty on halfway would now be awarded if a kick-off went out on the full.

1966:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1966 NSWRFL season.
 * A five-yard ruck rule, applying to both teams, was implemented; an increase from three yards. Amended: ?, xxxx.

RFL Implemented: 1966-67 Northern Rugby Football League season.
 * A four-tackle rule was introduced in December 1966. The rule ended unlimited tackles, a by-product from the introduction of the play-the-ball in 1906. Amended: RFL, 1972.

1967:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1967 NSWRFL season.
 * The four-tackle rule was introduced to replace unlimited tackles. Amended: NSWRFL, 1971.
 * The tap penalty was reintroduced following its withdrawal in 1959.
 * Scrum were replaced by a tap kick at restarts following penalty kicks into touch.

1968:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1968 NSWRFL season.
 * Defending teams would restart with a 25-yard optional kick should an attacking team make the ball dead.

1969:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1969 NSWRFL season.
 * The front-row were required to pack 'square' in scrums.

1970s
1970:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1970 NSWRFL season.
 * Two injured players were allowed to be replaced at any time during a game, provided that the replacements had played at least half of a lower-grade game that day. Amended: NSWRFL, 1981.

1971:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1971 NSWRFL season.
 * Value of a drop goal was reduced from two points to one point.
 * The six-tackle rule was introduced, replacing the four-tackle rule.

1972:

RFL Implemented: 1972-73 Northern Rugby Football League season.
 * The six-tackle rule was introduced for the 1972-73 season with the aim of alleviating the "disjointed" play experienced with the four-tackle rule.

1980s
1981:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1981 NSWRFL season.
 * Temporary suspensions of players, known as the "sin-bin", are introduced for misconduct.
 * The differential scrum penalty is introduced.
 * Four replacements of players on the field are allowed during matches. Amended: NSWRL, 1988.

1982:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1982 NSWRFL season.
 * Loose-head and feed were now given to non-offending team at the scrum.

1983:

NSWRFL Implemented: 1983 NSWRFL season.
 * The value of try was increased from three points to four points.
 * The handover was introduced if a team was caught in possession after the sixth tackle. This replaced the scrum in this situation.

1986:

NSWRL Implemented: 1986 NSWRL season.
 * A twenty-metre restart was given when the ball was caught on the full in the in-goal area by a member of the defending team.

1987:

NSWRL Implemented: 1987 NSWRL season.
 * The 'Head-bin' was introduced for players suffering minor head injuries. The injured players were allowed to return to the field of play after 10 minutes without affecting team's quota of replacements.  Replaced: NSWRL, 1991.
 * A team that kicked the ball into touch in own half of the field, up to the fourth tackle, was awarded the ball feed at the following scrum. This rule was suspended before the 1987 NSWRL season play-offs. Repealed: NSWRL, 1987.

1988:

🇦🇺 NSWRL Implemented: 1988 NSWRL season.
 * Two fresh replacements were now allowed, previously they had had to have played in a lower-grade game earlier. Amended: NSWRL, 1991.

1989:

🇦🇺 NSWRL Implemented: 1989 NSWRL season.
 * The use of the handover was extended to those occasions on the sixth tackle when the attacking team knocked on, kicked out on the full, or ran into touch.
 * When a scrum took place, all players standing outside it, apart from the halfback, had to stand a minimum of 5 metres back to be onside.

1990s
1990:

🇦🇺 NSWRL Implemented: 1990 NSWRL season.
 * In-goal touch judges were introduced for the finals series.
 * Any players chasing their team's kick from an offside position were required to remain 10 metres away from the opponent taking possession of the ball. This was an increase from 5 metres.

1991:

🇦🇺 NSWRL Implemented: 1991 NSWRL season.
 * A penalty would now be given against a defender guilty of stripping the ball from opponent in possession.
 * The interchange rule was introduced, it allowed four players, consisting of up to two fresh reserves and a minimum of two players who had played half a game of the preceding Reserve Grade or President's Cup, unlimited interchanges during a match.  The rule's main purpose was to reduce the risk of blood-borne diseases being spread but an angry public reaction forced a modification in April.   The rule changed to allow a total of four players to be available for a maximum of six interchanges during a match.   Players sent to the ‘blood-bin' would not count among these six interchanges.  Amended: ARL, 1996.

1993:

🇦🇺 NSWRL Implemented: 1993 NSWRL season.
 * A ten-metre offside rule was introduced mid-season for non-markers on the defending team at the play-the-ball.

1994:

RFL Implemented: 1994-95 Rugby Football League season.
 * Referees were given the power to put a player suspected of foul play "on report" with the incident to be reviewed later by the disciplinary panel. The system was based on the one already operating in Australian rugby league. Referees signalled that an incident had been put "on report" by crossing their raised arms above their heads.
 * In-goal judges were trialled, these two additional match officials are positioned behind the dead-ball line at each end of the playing field and aim to aid the referee in judging if a try has been scored. The in-goal judges had been used in Australia for two years.
 * Referees penalised defending players lifting attackers in the tackle in a way that could lead to an illegal spear tackle.

1996:

SLIB Implemented: 1996 Super League World Nines.
 * The video referee was used for the first time. The video referee could be used when the match referee was not sure a try had been scored and wanted to check if a player had stayed in the field of play, if the player had grounded the ball correctly, double movements, if there had been any obstruction, and whether the players involved in the "immediate passage leading up the potential try being scored" were onside or offside.

🇦🇺🇳🇿 ARL Implemented: 1996 ARL season. 🇫🇷 RFL Implemented: Super League I.
 * Unlimited interchanges were re-introduced. Amended: NRL, 2001.
 * Scrums were now to be set 20 metres from the touch-line, with the aim of creating attacking opportunities.
 * At the restart after a try had been scored and the conversion attempt had been taken, the side that scored now kicked off to the other team. This change aimed to make contests more even by almost guaranteeing possession for the side that had conceded points. Greg McCallum, the director of referees' coaching, also noted that this convention was "in line with most other sports" and "that is significant when we come to promoting the game in America and Asia".
 * At the play-the-ball, the side not in possession was barred from striking for the ball. This was an attempt to clean up the ruck.
 * At the play-the-ball, the tackled player was stopped from being able to tap the ball forwards to himself - even in the absence of markers.

1997:

🇦🇺 ARL Implemented: 1997 ARL season.
 * Striking by the defending marker at the play-the-ball was banned.
 * The requirement for the attacking team to stand a minimum distance behind dummy-half at the play-the-ball was ended.
 * The 40/20 rule was introduced to reward accurate kicking in general play and to disrupt the pattern of teams having turns at sets of six tackles. The rule gave the loose head and feed at the resulting scrum to a team that kicked the ball from behind their 40 metre line so that it bounced in the field of play before going into touch behind their opponent's 20 metre line. The rule also encouraged the defenders, usually wingers and fullbacks, to make a play for the ball instead of allowing it to leave play.
 * New guidelines were introduced to combat 'dangerous throws'.
 * Tackled players were banned from playing the ball forward to themselves. There was some concern that this could stifle play if a supporting teammate was slow to move into the dummy-half position to allow a play-the-ball.

🇦🇺 SL (A) Implemented: 1997 Super League (Australia) season.
 * The video referee used. Adopted: NRL, 1998.
 * The zero tackle rule was introduced. Defending teams were given an extra tackle when they received the ball if their player ran it back rather than allowing the ball to leave play if, for example, the attacking team kicked the ball. This was an attempt to reward positive play and break the cycle of teams taking turns to have six tackles. Adopted: NRL, 1998.
 * Tackled players were banned from playing the ball forward to themselves. As with the equivalent change by the ARL, there was some concern that this could stifle play.
 * The kick-off following points being scored was altered so that the non-scoring team was to receive the kick. One intention of this change was to "narrow the gap between good and bad teams".

1998:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 1998 NRL season.
 * The Zero tackle was adopted for the unified competition.
 * The video referee was adopted.

1999:

RFL Implemented: Super League IV.
 * The 40/20 rule was introduced. The 40/20 had been used in Australia since 1997.

2000s
2001:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 2001 NRL season.
 * A defending player jumping to catch the ball from an opponent's kick cannot be tackled mid-air. This rule was brought in due to safety consideration. The rule allows for defending players to tackle the attacking players in the air. There had been concerns from coaches that allowing an attacker to land with the ball before attempting a tackle could result in "uncontested tries" or a penalty try if a tackle was attempted while they were in the air; either of these scenarios was considered against the principles of the game.
 * A team that finds touch with a kick from a 20 metre optional re-start is awarded the loose head and feed at the scrum.
 * If from a kick anywhere on the field, the defending team takes the ball dead, for example if they place one foot over the dead ball line before playing at the ball, the team must re-start play with a goal-line drop-out.
 * The defending team were allowed to strip the ball in the tackle if no more than two tacklers were in attendance.
 * Limited interchanges were reintroduced, a maximum of 12 interchanges were now allowed using a pool of 4 replacements. Amended: NRL, 2008.

RFL Implemented: Super League VI.
 * 20 metre restarts should be allowed to happen quickly and not be delayed by referees.
 * The first and second halves would end the moment that the hooter sounds, in the past referees could use their discretion to let play continue if they felt the siren had sounded in during play.

2003:

RFL Implemented: Super League VIII.
 * The knock-on rule was modified so that if in the referee's judgement a player did not play at the ball, a knock-on would not be given.
 * New interchange and substitution rules were introduced. The number of interchanges, which now included blood bins, increased from 6 to 12 using a pool of 4 substitutes. This change aimed to retain the element of wearing down a team's opponents during the game - which was considered part of the character of the sport. Stuart Cummings, the Rugby Football League's technical controller said the changes "bring us into line with the international rules" and ruled out future increases as well as declaring, "We will never see the unlimited interchange introduced into rugby league in Britain," a change that had caused controversy in Australia during its experiment there.

2004:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 2004 NRL season.
 * Should an attacking player be held up by defenders in-goal, they should carry on play with a play-the-ball on the 10 metre line.

2006:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 2006 NRL season.
 * Taps from penalty kicks to touch were now to be taken 20 metres infield. Amended: NRL, 2009.

2008:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 2008 NRL season.
 * The maximum number of interchanges that could be made from a pool of four replacements was reduced from 12 to 10.
 * A second tackler was now permitted to strip the ball if the attacker carrying it was attempting to place ball for a try.

🇫🇷 RFL Implemented: Super League XIII.
 * If a team kicks the ball from a 20 metre restart and the ball bounces into touch or over the dead ball line they will be given head and feed at the resulting scrum.
 * In the scrum the ball can no longer be trapped by the loose forward in an attempt to catch the opposition offside. If the scrum moves forwards and the ball comes from between and behind the inner feet of the second row forwards it will be deemed to be out of the scrum.
 * Defenders, excluding the markers at a play-the-ball, must stand with both feet behind the referee's front foot to be judged onside.
 * If over their try-line the defenders steal the ball from the attacking team when there is more than one defender involved in the tackle a penalty will be given rather than a penalty try.

2009:

🇦🇺🇳🇿 NRL Implemented: 2009 NRL season.
 * An assistant on-field referee was introduced.
 * A penalty can be applied by the referee against a defender where the attacking kicker has been tackled whilst they are in the air.
 * The tap from penalty kick to touch to be taken 10 metres infield.