Formation
A line-out is formed with a minimum of two players from each side; the maximum number is determined by the team throwing in and their opponents must not have more players in the line-out (though they can have fewer). The players forming the line-out must stand at least 5 metres, but not more than 15 metres, from the touch-line, in two parallel lines, each team's players standing at least half a metre on their side of the "line of touch" (an imaginary line extending the full width of the pitch, at right angles to the touch-line at the point where the line-out is formed), so that there is a gap of at least one metre between the opposing lines.
A player from the throwing team, usually (but not always) the hooker, throws the ball in. He stands with both feet outside the field-of-play and must throw the ball straight, along the gap between the teams, without feinting or dummying the throw. The thrower may throw the ball as high and as far as he wishes and players forming part of the line-out are allowed to jump up and catch the ball. Players who do not themselves jump for the ball may support a jumper from their team, but are not allowed to lift the jumper or otherwise support him before he has left the ground, provisions that are rarely enforced in practice.
A player in the line-out will attempt either to catch the ball or to knock it back to a "receiver", a player of his own side, often the scrum-half but sometimes another forward, who is standing close to the line-out on his own side in a position to receive such a ball. Each team may have, at most, one receiver at a line-out. If the line-out player catches the ball he may hold on to it and allow a maul to form, or pass it to another player.
Players not forming part of the line-out, or acting as receiver, must stay at least ten metres from the line of touch until the line-out is over, except that if the line-out is formed within 10 metres of their goal-line, they need only retreat behind the goal-line. A line-out ends when the ball, or a player carrying it, leaves the line-out, or, if a ruck or maul is formed at the line-out, when all the feet of all the players forming the ruck or maul move beyond the line of touch.
The lineout was originally contested with both teams jumping unsupported to retrieve the ball. However, lifting in the lineout was later introduced and under Law 19 of the IRB rules, players are now allowed to pre-grip and lift their teammates in the lineout. It is thought that lifting in the lineout was first introduced by a Trafford MV RFCC player named Bernard Millington in the early 1980s.
Read more about this topic: Line-out (rugby Union)
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