Player leaving the field of play.

Gloucester first try against Newcastle in the Premiership on Saturday 3 March 2018

The Gloucester player received a pass near the touch line run’s forward then grubber kick’s the ball forward he then goes off the pitch but carries on running about a metre off the pitch for about 10 metre’s going pass Newcastle player’s he then come’s back on the pitch collect’s his kick and score’s a try.

Can you pleas tell me why he was allowed to do this as he had gone off the pitch?

Michael Foxcroft

Hi Michael

The Rugby Ref saw this incident, it was a great bit of individual skill.  There is no law that says a player cannot temporarily leave the field of play, or re-enter it, so this action was perfectly legal.  The Rugby Ref has listed a couple of laws to demonstrate this:

Law 21 (In-goal) specifically allows a player outside the field of play to take part in the game.  That player can even score a try while off the field of play.

Law 21 10. If a player is in touch or touch-in-goal, they can make a touch down or score a try by grounding the ball in in-goal provided they are not holding the ball.

Law 18 (Touch, Quick Throw and Lineout) also states how a player in touch can play the ball without making it dead, so play continues.

Law 182. The ball is not in touch or touch-in-goal if:b. A player jumps, from within or outside the playing area, and catches the ball, and then lands in the playing area, regardless of whether the ball reached the plane oftouch.c. A player, who is in touch, kicks or knocks the ball, but does not hold it, provided ithas not reached the plane of touch.

Thanks for the question.
The Rugby Ref