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The forward pass or knock on law is in reality not a complicated one, so you might ask why there is such controversy about when a ball is passed forward or not.
The problem comes in when real world situations affect the literal meaning of the law. What I mean by that is the law of physics.
We are all aware of the fact when you pass or shoot an object or projectile perpendicular to the direction in which a vehicle is moving, the mass of the object and the momentum of the moving object prior to the release will naturally force the object or projectile to continue moving or drifting forward.
In order for a rugby ball not to move or drift forward, the player will have to compensate for the momentum of the ball, any pass that is delivered ‘flat’ will and can be deemed as a forward pass.
When the player delivering the ball continues to move forward, the ball will look like it has been delivered backwards, however the forward motion of the ball is more pronounced when the deliverer of the ball has been stopped in his tracks
Unfortunately in match situations, it is impossible to stop the match after every move to assess forward motion of a rugby ball.
Here is the law currently as it stands at the IRB:
LAW 12, DEFINITION
A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward, or when a player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm, or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward, and the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it.
‘Forward’ means towards the opposing team’s dead-ball line.
EXCEPTION CHARGE DOWN.
If a player charges down the ball as an opponent kicks it, or immediately after the kick, it is not a knock-on even though the ball may travel forward.
DEFINITION OF THROW FORWARD.
A throw forward occurs when a player throws or passes the ball forward. ‘Forward’ means towards the opposing team’s dead ball line.
OUTCOME OF A THROW FORWARD
(a) Unintentional knock-on or throw forward. A scrum is awarded at the place of infringement.
(b) Unintentional knock-on or throw forward at a lineout. A scrum is awarded 15 metres from the touchline.
(c) Knock-on or throw forward into the in-goal. If an attacking player knocks-on or throws-forward in the field of play and the ball goes into the opponents’ in-goal and it is made dead there, a scrum is awarded where the knock-on or throw forward happened.
(d) Knock-on or throw forward inside the in-goal. If a player of either team knocks-on or throws-forward inside the in-goal, a 5-metre scrum is awarded in line with the place of infringement not closer than five metres from the touchline.
(e) Intentional knock or throw forward. A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm, nor throw forward. Sanction: Penalty kick. A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.
We have all heard about the observation of what the hands did in the pass, and the interpretation of a forward pass should start here.
1. Did the player pass the ball backwards with his leading arm, in other words, if you pass to your left, what was the direction of the motion in your right hand? It is impossible to throw a ball forward if your leading hand is going in a backwards motion.
2. Was the receiver of the ball behind, even if only a few millimetres, the player passing the ball?
Now this has a lot of significance due to the fact that when and of the receiver of the pass is behind the player who delivers the ball, the receiver has not yet breached the defensive line and therefor has not gained an unfair advantage over his defender.
In my opinion if these two additions are brought into the interpretation of the forward pass, it will eliminate and accommodate the momentum that is innate in any forward moving object.
So if a television match official has to make a decision in regards to a forward pass or possible forward pass, he needs to look at only two criteria and remove the motion of the ball out of the equation.
If the motion of the passer’s hands were in a backwards motion, he has complied to the law, if the receiver is behind the passer, he has complied to the law.
Hence a forward pass cannot be ruled.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.