Auckland Rugby League
Referees Association

SECTION 2

2.0 - THE TACKLE

2.1 - THE TACKLE

2.1.1 - A player in possession may be tackled by any number of opposing players.

2.1.2 - It is illegal to tackle or obstruct a player who is not in possession.

2.1.3 - A Player in possession is tackled:-

a) When he is held by one or more opposing players and the ball or the hand or arm holding the ball comes into contact with the ground.

b) When he is held by one or more opposing players in such a manner that he can make no further progress and cannot part with the ball.

c) When being held by an opponent and the tackled player makes it evident he has succumbed to the tackle and wishes to be released in order to play the ball.

d) When he is lying on the ground and an opponent places a hand on him.

2.1.4

a) A tackle is not effected if the hold on the player in possession is broken before he is grounded.

b) The referee should be sure in his own mind that the tackle was indeed broken and the tackler had not released the player having thought the tackle was completed.

2.1.5 - A tackler must not use any special holds or throws which are likely to cause injury.

2.1.6 - Brining a player to ground by pulling him over the outstretched leg is permissible provided both arms make contact with the opponent before the leg.

2.1.7 - A tackler must no use his knees in making a tackle.

2.1.8 - Where opponents, whilst making a tackle, attempt to push, pull or carry the player in possession, the tackled player’s colleagues may lend their weight in order to avoid losing ground. Immediately this happens the referee should call ‘Held’.

2.1.9 - Once a player in possession has been tackled it is illegal for any player to move or try to move him from the point where the tackle is affected.

2.1.10 - If an attacking player in possession is brought down near the goal line and the ball or hand or arm holding it is not grounded, it is permissible to place the ball over the line for a try. In this case the tackle has not been completed.

2.1.11 - When a player is tackled within easy reach of the goal line he should be penalised if he makes a second movement to place the ball over the line for a try.

2.1.12 - A player in possession shall not deliberately or unnecessarily allow himself to voluntarily fall to the ground when not held by the opponent.

2.1.13 - If a player drops on a loose ball he shall not remain on the ground waiting to be tackled if he has time to regain his feet and continue play.

2.1.14 - If a tackled player slides along the ground because of his momentum the tackle is affected where his slide ends.

2.1.15 - If any doubt arises as to a tackle, the referee should give a verbal instruction to ‘play on’ or call ‘held’ as the case may be.

2.1.16 - If there is no acting half-back, it is permissible for a player to dive behind the tackled player to drop on the ball after he has played it. He should then immediately try to regain his feet and play on.

2.1.17 - A tackled player shall not intentionally lose the ball.

2.1.18 - If after being tackled a player accidentally loses possession, a scrum shall be formed, except after the fifth play the ball.

2.1.19 - A player in possession brought to his knees or brought to the ground on his back may still pass the ball provided he has not made it evident he has succumbed to the tackle.

2.2 - SIXTH TACKLE

2.2.1 - A team in possession of the ball shall be allowed five successive play the balls.

2.2.2 - If tackled for a sixth time the referee will rule a hand over except if tackled in his own in-goal, in which case, the play shall be restarted with a goal-line drop out.

2.2.3 - If an infringement occurs by the team in possession after the fifth play the ball, which in normal circumstances would result in a scrum, the referee will rule a hand over at the point of the infringement. (Other than 2.2.6)

2.2.4 - The play the ball following the hand over will not be counted in the tackle count.

2.2.5 - If the ball is kicked out on the full after the fifth tackle the handover takes place at the point where the ball was kicked.

2.2.6 - If, following a kick, the ball bounces into touch after the fifth tackle, a scrum will be formed. The scrum shall be formed twenty metres in from where the ball crosses the touch line and no closer then ten metres to the goal line.

2.2.7 - The referee will indicate the fifth tackle by raising one arm vertically with fingers and thumb outstretched.

2.2.8 - He will indicate the sixth tackle by blowing his whistle and signaling the player to release the ball for his opponents to play the ball.

2.2.9 - If after the fifth play the ball the player in possession is tackled into touch or the ball is passed other than forward into touch, the handover will be given 10 metres in the field of play opposite the entry into touch.

2.3 - ZERO TACKLE

2.3.1 - Following an infringement, e.g., knock-on or forward pass, and an opponent gathers the ball, he may run, pass or kick the ball and if he or a member of his team is tackled, the play the ball following that tackle shall not count as part of the tackle count.

2.4 - STEALING THE BALL

2.4.1 - Once a tackle has been completed, no player shall take or attempt to take the ball from the tackled player.

2.4.2 - If a player or players make no effort to complete a tackle of the player in possession but simply hold him so that a colleague can steal the ball, they should be penalised.

2.4.3 - In tackles involving only one tackler, it is permissible to steal the ball prior to the tackle being effected. In tackles involving two (2) or more tacklers, the ball can not be intentionally stolen.

2.5 - MID-AIR TACKLES

2.5.1 - A player who leaps into the air to retrieve a kick must not be tackled until he has returned to the ground. It is considered misconduct for players to dive at the legs of a kicker after the ball has been kicked.