Law Discussion: Is this legal?
There was an unusual occurrence at the Sevens in Las Vegas recently, a city where taking a chance is commonplace.
Kenya played Samoa in the Final of the plate competition. Samoa were leading but the enthusiastic Kenyans were fighting back and scored a try under the posts.
Time was running out and the try-scorer hurried to kick the conversion. He kicked it over the crossbar.
There is nothing unusual in that except that he kicked the drop from where he scored the try, that is in-ingoal back into the field of play.
Would you allow that?
Look to the law. Tick the boxes and see if the innovative Kenya was right or wrong.
Law 9.B CONVERSION KICK
9.B.1 TAKING A CONVERSION KICK
(a) The kicker must use the ball that was in play unless it is defective.
(b) The kick is taken on a line through the place where the try was scored.
(c) A placer is a team-mate who holds the ball for the kicker to kick.
(d) The kicker may place the ball directly on the ground or on sand, sawdust or a kicking tee approved by the Union.
(e) The kicker must take the kick within one minute from the time the kicker has indicated an intention to kick. The intention to kick is signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or the player makes a mark on the ground. The player must complete the kick within the minute even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again.
Sanction: The kick is disallowed if the kicker does not take the kick within the time allowed.
9.B.2 THE KICKER’S TEAM
(a) All the kicker’s team, except the placer, must be behind the ball when it is kicked.
(b) Neither the kicker nor a placer must do anything to mislead their opponents into charging
too soon.
There are changes for Sevens
9.B CONVERSION KICK
9.B.1 TAKING A CONVERSION KICK
9.B.1 (c) The kick must be a drop kick.
Delete (d)
(e) The kicker must take the kick within forty seconds of a try having been scored. The kick is disallowed if the kicker does not take the kick in the time allowed.
9.B.3 THE OPPOSING TEAM
(a) All the opposing team must immediately assemble close to their own 10-metre line.
This last bit is important as it means that the Samoans could not get in the way of the Kenyan kick.
Question: Would you allow this?