PRINCIPLES & RULES

RABADAA TOUCH RUGBY TOURNAMENT

 1. HAVE FUN!
2. FAIR PLAY ABOVE ALL!
3. THE REFEREE IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

PRINCIPLE OF THE TOURNAMENT

In the pool matches, a win will be awarded 3 points, a draw 2
points and a loss will get 1 point.

The number of pools will be depending on the number of

teams registered.

After pool games, a Main Cup, a Plate and a Bowl competitions

will be organized with knockout matches.
OBJECT AND PRINCIPLE
OF THE GAME
• The object of the game is for each team to score ‘touchdowns’ and prevent the
opposition from scoring.
• A ‘Touchdown’ or ‘Try’ is awarded when an attacking player places the ball on the
ground, on or over the defending team’s score-line.
• A Touchdown is worth 1 point (if scored by an adult man), 2 points (by a woman)
and 3 points (by a child under 14)
• The ball may be passed, knocked or handed between on-side players of the
attacking team, who may in turn, run or otherwise move with the ball in an attempt
to gain territorial advantage and score.
• The ball can only be passed backwards.
• Defending players prevent the attacking team from gaining a territorial advantage
by touching the ball carrier. ‘Touch’ is the only contact permitted.
• After 6 touches, the ball is handed over to the other side.
• The defending team must be back 5 meters for the restart of play and after each
touchdown.
• If the ‘dummy half’ (the player who picks up a ‘Roll Ball’) is touched with the ball,
possession is handed over to the opposition who will recommence play with a Roll
ball (see below ‘Roll ball’ entry).

DURATION OF THE GAME

• 2*5 minutes with a break of 2 minutes half time (pool matches)
• 2*7 minutes for semi finals and finals (except if time not permitting)

NUMBER OF PLAYERS
• Each team is made of 10 players maximum.
• No more than 6 players of each team are allowed on the field at any time.
• Unlimited numbers of substitutions are allowed, provided that the new player
come on field once the substituted player has left.
• Players shall not switch teams once registered to a particular side.

TOUCH
• A ‘touch’ can be made by defending player on any part below the waist of the
person carrying ball, with two hands.
• Defending player must claim a touch by raising a hand and shouting, “Touch!”.
• Players are to use the minimum force necessary to affect the touch.
• After a touch has been affected, the player in possession is required to stop, return
to the mark where the touch occurred (if the mark has been over-run), and perform
a ‘Roll ball’ without delay.
• A ‘touch and pass’ occurs when a person who is touched then passes the ball.
Again, the ruling will be a penalty.
• ‘Overstepping’ or ‘Off the mark’ occurs when the player who has been touched goes
past the point where he was touched to restart the game. In this case, a penalty
will be awarded to the opposition.
ROLL-BALL
• The attacking player is to position on the mark, face the opponent’s (defending) score-line,
stand parallel to the sidelines, and roll the ball backwards along the ground between the feet
a distance of not more than one (1) meter. Once the ball is placed on the mark, the attacking
player may step over the ball.
• The player picking up the ball (the “dummy-half” or “acting half”) may run, but if touched a
turnover occurs. The dummy-half may not score and a changeover (roll ball) will be awarded
if this occurs.

PENALTY
• If a player is penalized, his/her team must retreat 5 meters.
• A penalty is taken by placing the ball on the ground, letting go of the ball, touching the ball with
the foot, picking up the ball and play (TAP).

BALL TO GROUND
• When the ball goes to ground for any reason, possession changes and game restarts with a Roll
ball

PASSING (FORWARD)
• A forward pass occurs when the ball is passed in front of the player who was in possession of
the ball. In this situation, the ruling will be a penalty.

OFFSIDE
• An attacking player is offside when that player is forward of another attacking player who has
possession or who last had possession of the ball.
• A defending player is offside when that player has not retreated the required 5/10 meters (in
case of Roll ball/Penalty) at recommencement of play.
• For all offside incidents, the opposition will be awarded a penalty.

ADVANTAGE
• If the attacking player, when making a quick start, is touched by an off-side defender, play is
allowed to continue. If an attacking side gains no advantage, a PENALTY for the first down will
be given.

FUN AND FAIR PLAY

• If a touch is considered too strong, a PENALTY will be awarded to the attacking team.
• No obstruction, excessive contact, verbal abuse or foul play will be tolerated – The referee is
sole judge
• A PENALTY will be awarded in such cases and a player can receive 2 minutes in the SIN BIN.
• Serious or continual foul play of any nature will result in the player being sent off without a
replacement
RULES RECAP IN 21 BULLET POINTS
1. The attacking team starts with a “TAP ” from the middle of the field
2. The defending team must be back 5meters for the start of play, and after each touch down.
3. The TAP is performed by placing the ball on the ground, touching the ball with the foot then picking it
up and playing
4. After being touched, the touched player rolls the ball between his / her legs (ROL BALL).
5. The player who picks the ball behind is the “dummy-half”
6. The attacking team continues play until they have suffered 6 touches.
7. On the 5th, ref calls “LAST” and upon touch it’s a turnover >>Roll ball opposing team
8. After 6 touches, the ball is handed over to the other team -> ROLLBALL
9. When the ball is dropped on the ground, it’s a turnover.
10. Turnover: When the attacking side loses the ball to the opposition -> ROLLBALL
11. The person who takes the role of dummy half can cross the try-line but cannot score
12. If the dummy half is touched while in possession of the ball, it is a turn-over -> ROLL BALL
13. After a team scores, the game starts again with a TAP in the center of the pitch
14. If the defending players do not retreat 5meters after a TOUCH, the are OFFSIDE - > PENALTY
15. A PENALTY : is played with a TAP
16. When a player is penalized, his/her team must retreat 10 meters.
17. Touch Off side: as would be in rugby league, FIT requires the defending team to MUST retreat 5 meters
from the touch mark. The touching player needs not to retreat but cannot touch another player after
that unless the play after ends>>offside rule>roll ball, back to 6 takes
18. Forward pass: When the ball is passed in front of the player who was in possession of the ball -> TURN-
OVER
19. Touch and pass: When a player is touched, then passes the ball > PENALTY
20. ‘Overstep’ or ‘off the mark’: When the player who has been touched goes past the point where they were
touched to restart the game -> PENALTY
21. When a roll-ball is taken within 5 meters of the score-line the defending players must retreat with both
feet to behind their score-line before they can make the touch.
22. Touch on a player diving to score isn’t a touch>>try
23. A “Try” is scored when a player places the ball on the ground, on or behind the defending team score-
line. If a player is touched in the touchdown area before grounding the ball, there is no “Try”, the touch
counts and play is restarted on the 5-metre line
24. The touched player can became playable upon the roll through the legs as long as the ball is within
the 1 meter. This means he/she can retreat while the ball is so. This encourages continuity of play and
immediate support. (If the ball travels beyond a meter, it’s playable and no offside)
25. Win: 3 points – Draw : 1 point - Loss: 0 point
26. A try by a female player in a mixed team is double the score points

TEAM
.........................
TEAM REP SIGN
......................... ..........................