World Rugby have issued a formal law clarification confirming that a player can be awarded a try if they ground the ball in in-goal, even if they actually place the ball on top of an item rather than the ground itself.
This follows a freak incident in a World 7s Series match where a ball carrier was trying to score a try. He was tackled on the goal line, and the tackler knocked the corner flag out of the ground into in-goal. The ball carrier reached to ‘ground’ the ball, but ended up placing it on the flag, not the ground. As the ball wasnt grounded, teh ball was deemed held up. But on review it was decided a formal clarification was needed as the scenario isn’t covered in law.
The clarification now confirms that referees should use the logic offered in existing law 6.12 – about touching a non-player – to cover this scenario too.
Law 6.12 – If the ball is touched by the referee or other non-player in in-goal, the referee judges what would have happened next and awards a try or a touch down at the place where the contact took place.
World Rugby laws of the game
World Rugby have said they will add some new wording in the next law review cycle which kicks off after RWC23.
