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Kicking to touch
The laws on kicking to touch

This is a good way to gain valuable ground, especially on the fifth tackle.

Touch is found when a player kicks the ball, which has bounced IN the field of play, before going over the touchline.

A scrum will take place opposite to where the ball went out of play, 20 metres inside the pitch.

The advantage is with the other team who didn't kick the ball to touch because they get the put-in at the scrum.

There are a couple of important rules to remember when kicking to touch.

  • Make sure the ball bounces inside the pitch before it goes out to touch.

    If it goes out on the full, then a scrum will take place at the spot where the kick was taken.

  • If the ball is kicked out to touch on the full on the fifth tackle, the opposition restart play with a play-the-ball at the spot where the kick was taken.

  • If the ball goes to ground slap bang on the touch line, then the ball will be out to touch.

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