Free kick (rugby union)
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A free kick in rugby union is usually awarded to a team for a technical offence committed by the opposing side. Free kicks are awarded for technical offences such as numbers at the line-out or time wasting at a scrum. A free kick is also awarded for making a mark.
Once awarded a free kick the team must decided how they wish to play it. There are four options.
- The team may opt to play a place kick, where the ball is placed on the ground by the kicker at a point designated by the referee then the player may take a run up to the ball and kick it downfield.
- They may opt for a drop kick, where the ball starts in the player's hands and is dropped onto the ground whereupon it is kicked downfield on its upward bounce by the player.
- They may opt to play a tap kick. A tap kick is played when the team feel they would benefit more from keeping possession of the ball rather than kicking it downfield. To play a tap kick, the player holds the ball in their hand and then taps it against their foot; this is deemed a kick and the ball is immediately in play. The game continues as if the player had just picked the ball up off the ground in normal play.
- In the modern rules, a team awarded a free kick may opt to take it as a scrum.
The team in possession cannot score a drop goal until the ball has become dead or an opponent has touched the ball or tackled a ball carrier. This also applies if the team in possession opts for a scrum. Unlike a penalty kick, if the ball goes into touch from a free kick then the line-out is taken by the opposing team rather than the kicking team.
