With my deepest regrets:
This is from the USA Laws Committee:
Question
The ball is kicked into touch at 25m and a quick throw is taken from that spot and thrown back inside the 22m (the quick throw itself, not a subsequent pass).
Answer
No gain in ground.
Question
The ball is kicked into touch at 25m a quick throw is taken INSIDE the 22m. Is there a gain in ground?
Answer
No gain in ground as the thrower chose to restart behind the 22.
And the law text supports the concept that a player who takes the ball back into the 22 area cannot gain ground from that maneuver:
(b) When a team causes the ball to be put into that team’s 22. When a defending player plays the
ball from outside the 22 and it goes into that player’s 22 or in-goal area without touching an
opposition player and then that player or another player from that team kicks the ball directly into
touch before it touches an opposition player, or a tackle takes place or a ruck or maul is formed,
there is no gain in ground. This applies when a defending player moves back behind the 22
metre line to take a quick throw-in and then the ball is kicked directly into touch.
(c) Defending team takes the ball into that team’s 22 at a scrum or lineout. When a defending
team throws the ball into a scrum or lineout outside that team’s 22 and the ball then crosses into
the team’s 22 without touching an opposition player and then a player from the defending team
kicks the ball directly into touch before it touches an opposition player, or a tackle takes place or
a ruck or maul is formed, there is no gain in ground.
So, even my governing body says no gain:sad:
On a plus side, the bloke that sent the email is call Mr Laws