Auckland Rugby League
Referees Association

SECTION 4

4.0 - THE KNOCK-ON & FORWARD PASS

4.1 - KNOCK-ON

4.1.1 - Play shall stop after a knock on and a scrum formed, except after the fifth play the ball.

4.1.2 - The referee should allow play to proceed long enough after a knock on to allow the opposing team the advantage of gaining possession.

4.1.3 - An opponent may charge down a kick by blocking the path of the ball with the hands, arm or body. This is not a knock-on but nullifies the tackle count.

4.1.4 - A player shall be penalised if he deliberately knocks-on.

4.1.5 - If after an accidental knock-on, the player knocking-on regathers or kicks the ball before it hits the ground, goal post, or an opponent, play shall be allowed to proceed.

4.1.6 - If a player knocks-on in the field of play, and the ball goes into the in-goal area before being touched down by that player or a colleague, play is restarted with a scrum

4.2 - FORWARD PASS

4.2.1 - A Player shall be penalised if he deliberately passes the ball forward.

4.2.2 - If the ball is passed correctly and then bounces forward or is blown forward by the wind there is no infringement and play should continue.

4.2.3 - The direction of a pass is relative to the player making it and not to the actual path relative to the ground.

4.2.4 - A player running towards his opponents goal line may pass the ball to a colleague who is behind him but because of his own momentum the ball travels forward relative to the ground. This is not a forward pass as the player has not passed the ball forward in relation to himself. A good example is a high lobbed pass made by a running player.

4.2.5 - If the referee forms the opinion a forward pass was not deliberate he will restart play with a scrum.

4.2.6 - It is illegal to head the ball in a forward direction.