16m Players must not:
a Pick the ball up with their legs
B.Intentionally collapse a ruck or jump on top of it
c. intentionally step on another player.
d. Fall onto, or over, the emerging ball while it is on the ground near to the ruck.
well yes and no.yes, thanks. so you can't dive on a ball when the ruck has ended in field of play but you can in goal
presumably becasue once the ball is in goal it isnt a ruck?I think this is actually a good question
Does d apply if the ball emerges from a ruck, and is in goal ?
I think it doesn't
Yes, but it has just emerged from a ruck .. (and it has emerged and crossed the goal line)presumably becasue once the ball is in goal it isnt a ruck?
I can only see this happening if someone spills the ball or rucks it out over-enthusiastically. As long as it’s on or over the line then you can’t form a ruck so first body to drop onto the ball gets a try/touchdown depending on the team (and assuming no foul play or offsides before).Yes, but it has just emerged from a ruck .. (and it has emerged and crossed the goal line)
Agreed, but it's illegal to drop onto a ball that has just emerged from a ruckI can only see this happening if someone spills the ball or rucks it out over-enthusiastically. As long as it’s on or over the line then you can’t form a ruck so first body to drop onto the ball gets a try/touchdown depending on the team (and assuming no foul play or offsides before).
Anyone picture other scenarios?
so we have a dichotmy? Or not?Agreed, but it's illegal to drop onto a ball that has just emerged from a ruck
Agreed on the "if its in front of the goal line..." it's open to a touchdown. However, for me, if the ball is on the goal line or in-goal and we have no ruck, then the player isn't dropping on the ball per se but attempting to ground the ball. For me that is fair play, and no penalty for killing the ball.so we have a dichotmy? Or not?
if the ball squirts out behind the goal line - its not a ruck.
if its in front of the goal line but the ball ends up in goal its open to touchdown?
or if the scorer stayed on their feet and leant down and pressed it with a hand its a try? but not if they dived on it ?
Near a ruck, yes - but for me the prohibition of falling onto a ball near to the ruck only applies during the ruck. Once on or over the goal line the ruck is over. In the case where the ball is in the FoP, then to me that's open play and we have:If it was a ruck and ball squirts out and touches the goal line, then rick is over, but it's illegal to dive on the ball (technically) but in practice I assume every ref would allow it
Players must not
Fall onto, or over, the emerging ball while it is on the ground near to the ruck
By definition when the ball leaves the ruck, the ruck is over, so this Law only ever applies after a ruck is over.
(Really this Law should say ex-ruck)
For me I think it boils down to a ruck can only occur in the FoP. Even if there was a loose ball in-goal and several players from each team stood over it and pushed to their hearts content it is never a ruck.we still come down to the wierd dichotmy then where maybe
dive on the ball tos core = PK against
step forward and put a hand down on the ball = try
real difference = none