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The 2023 Rugby World Cup has provided plenty of drama over the last seven weeks, with the tournament concluding with a showdown between New Zealand and South Africa in the final on Saturday. And Express Sport is on hand to provide an insight into the offside law.
What is the rugby offside law?
According to World Rugby, the offside law restricts where on the field players can be to ensure there is space to attack and defend. In general, someone is offside if they are further forward on the pitch than the player who is carrying the ball or who last played the ball.
How can players be offside in a tackle or at a ruck?
Where a player has been tackled or a ruck has formed and the ball is on the ground, invisible offside lines are created when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball. Both teams will have an offside line drawn at the point of their body nearest their own goal line, which runs parallel across the pitch.
Can a player be offside when the ball is kicked forward?
Often in a game of rugby, a skilled kicker such as a full-back or fly-half will kick the ball forward out of their hands in an attempt to gain territory further up the field. Only players who were behind the kicker when the kick was made can go and compete for the ball as it lands. Any player who was in front of the kicker at the time of their punt forward will be deemed to be offside.
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Is it an offence to be offside?
It is not an offence for a player to stand in an offside position as long as they aren’t interfering with the action.
An offside player cannot attempt to play the ball, tackle an opponent or get in the way of the opposition. If a player is standing in an offside position, they must move back onside before they attempt to take part in the action, otherwise they will be penalised.
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What happens if a player is penalised for being offside?
If the referee does decide to penalise a player for being offside, they will award the opposing team a penalty.
The team that is given the penalty can then decide to kick for the posts or kick the ball into touch for a lineout further up the pitch. The team with the penalty can also opt for a scrum instead, although that rarely happens.
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