A team kicks off with a drop kick which must be taken at or behind the centre of the half way line.

All the kicker’s team must be behind the ball when it is kicked. If they are not, a scrum is formed at the centre. Their opponents throw in the ball.

All the opposing team must stand on or behind the 10-metre line. If they are in front of that line or if they charge before the ball is kicked, it is kicked off again.

If the ball reaches the opponents’ 10-metre line, play continues.

If the ball does not reach the opponent’s 10-metre line but is first played by an opponent, play continues.

If the ball does not reach the opponent’s 10-metre line the opposing team has two choices:

• To have the ball kicked off again, or
• To have a scrum at the centre. They throw in the ball.

BALL GOES DIRECTLY INTO TOUCH

The ball must land in the field of play. If it is kicked directly into touch the opposing team has three choices:

• To have the ball kicked off again, or
• To have a scrum at the centre and they have the throw-in, or
• To accept the kick. then the lineout is on the half way line.

BALL GOES INTO THE IN-GOAL

If the ball is kicked into the in-goal without having touched or been touched by a player, the opposing team has three choices:

• To ground the ball, or
• To make it dead, or
• To play on.

If the opposing team grounds the ball, or if they make it dead, or if the ball becomes dead by going into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead ball line, they have two choices:

• To have a scrum formed at the centre, and they throw in the ball, or
• To have the other team kick off again.

If they opt to ground the ball or make it dead, they must do so without delay. Any other action with the ball by a defending player means the player has elected to play on.