# Laws of Football as played at Rugby School (1846)

Laws of football as played at Rugby School, adopted September 7th, 1846.
THE
LAWS OF FOOTBALL,
AS PLAYED
AT RUGBY SCHOOL,
SANCTIONED BY A LEVEE OF BIGSIDE
ON THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1846.
The following book of Rules is to be regarded rather as a set of Decisions on certain disputed points in Football, than as containing all the Laws of the Game, which are too well known to render any explanation necessary to Rugbeians.
R U L E S .
i.
Kick off from Middle must be a place-kick.
ii.
Kick Out must not be from more than 25 yards out of goal, nor from more than 10 yards if a place-kick.
iii.
Fair Catch is a catch direct from the foot.
iv.
Charging is fair, in case of a place-kick, as soon as a ball has left the ground; in case of a kick from a catch, as soon as the player offers to kick, but he may always draw back, unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot.
v.
Off-Side. —A player is off his side, if the ball has touched one of his own side behind him until the other party kick it.
vi.
A player being off his side is to consider himself as out of the game, and is not to touch the ball in any case whatever (either in or out of touch): or in any way to interrupt the play, and is or course incapable of holding the ball.
vii.
Knocking on, as distinguished from throwing on, is altogether disallowed under any circumstances whatsoever. In case of this rule being broken, a catch from such a knock on shall be equivalent to a fair catch.
viii.
It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground, except in touch, either for a kick or throw on.
ix.
First of his Side is the player nearest the ball on his side.
x.
Running In is allowed to any player on his side, provided he does not take the ball off the ground, or through touch.
xi.
If, in the case of a run in, the ball be held in a scrummage, it shall not be lawful for the holder to transmit it to another of his own side.
xii.
No player may be held, unless he is himself holding the ball.
xiii.
It is not fair to hack and hold at the same time.
xiv.
No hacking with the heel, or unless below the knee, is fair.
xv.
No one wearing projecting nails or iron plates on the soles or heels of his shoes or boots shall be allowed to play.
xvi.
Try at Goal.— A ball touched between the goal posts may be brought up to either of them, but not between.
xvii.
The ball when punted must be within, and when caught without the line of goal.
xviii.
The ball must be place-kicked and not dropped, and if it touch two hands the try will be lost.
xix.
It shall be a goal if the ball go over the bar (whether it touch or no) without having touched the dress or person of any player; but no player may stand on the goal bar to interrupt it going over.
xx.
No goal may be kicked from touch.
xxi.
Touch.— A player may not in any case run with the ball in touch.
xxii.
A player standing up to another may hold one arm only, but may hack him or knock the ball out of his hand if he attempts to kick it, or go beyond the line of touch.
xxiii.
No agreement between two players to send the ball straight out shall be allowed.
xxiv.
A player having touched the ball straight for a tree and touched the tree with it, may drop from either side if he can, but one of the opposite party may oblige him to go to his own side of the tree.
xxv.
In case of a player getting a fair catch immediately in front of his own goal, he may not retire behind the line to kick it.
xxvi.
No player may take the ball out of the Close.
xxvii.
No player may stop the ball with anything but his own person.
xxviii.
If a player take a punt when he is not entitled to it, the opposite side may take a punt or drop, without running, (after touching the ball on the ground) if the ball has not touched two hands, but such drop may not be a goal.
xxix.
That part of the island which is in front of the line of goal is in touch, that behind it in goal.
xxx.
The discretion of sending into goal rests with heads of sides and houses, or their deputies.
xxxi.
Heads of sides, or two deputies appointed by them, are the sole arbiters of all disputes.
xxxii.
All matches are drawn after 5 days or after 3 days if no goal has been kicked.
xxxiii.
Two Bigside balls must always be in the Close during a match or Bigside.
xxxiv.
No football shall be played between the goals till the Sixth match.
xxxv.
Three Præpostors constitute a Bigside.
xxxvi.
At a Bigside the two players highest in the School shall toss up.
xxxvii.
Old Rugbeians shall be allowed to play at the matches of football, not, however, without the consent of the two heads of the sides; but no stranger may have a place-kick at goal.

## Notes

* ↑ Changes from 1845: Laws reordered: 1845 Laws 1846 Laws vi i vii ii i iii ix iv ii v x, xiii, xi vi iv vii iii ix viii x xxxvii xii xxvi xiv xxviii xv v xvi, xvii, xviii, xix, xx xv xxi xvi xxii xvii xxiii xviii xxiv xxix xxvi xxx xxvii xxxvi xxviii xxxiii xxix xxii xxx xxiv xxxi xx xxxii xxi xxxiii xxiii xxxiv xxxii xxxvi xxv xxxvii Old law vi / new law i: replace "place" with "place-kick". Old law vii / new law ii: replace "ten yards of goal if a place-kick, not more than twenty-five yards, if a punt, drop, or knock on" with "25 yards out of goal, nor from more than 10 yards if a place-kick". Old law ix / new law iv: replace "as soon as a ball has touched the ground" with "as soon as a ball has left the ground". Old law ix / new law iv: replace "as soon as the player's foot has left the ground, and not before" with "as soon as the player offers to kick, but he may always draw back, unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot". Old law ii / new law v: replace "until the other side touch it" with "until the other party kick it". Old laws x, xiii, xi / new law vi: replace "Off side. No player being off his side shall kick the ball in any case whatever. A player being off his side shall not touch the ball on the ground, except in touch. No player being off his side shall hack, charge, run in, touch the ball in goal, or interrupt a catch" with "A player being off his side is to consider himself as out of the game, and is not to touch the ball in any case whatever (either in or out of touch): or in any way to interrupt the play, and is of course incapable of holding the ball". Delete old law xii: "A player when off his side having a fair catch is entitled to a fair knock on, and in no other case". Delete old law xiv: "A player being off his side cannot put on his side himself, or any other player, by knocking or throwing on the ball". Delete old law xix: "A player touching the ball off his side must throw it straight out". Old law iv / new law vii: replace "A knock on, as distinguished from a throw on, consists in striking the ball on with the arm or hand" with "Knocking on, as distinguished from throwing on, is altogether disallowed under any circumstances whatsoever. In case of this rule being broken, a catch from such a knock on shall be equivalent to a fair catch". New law viii added: It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground, except in touch, either for a kick or throw on. Old law viii / new law x: replace "or take it through touch" with "or through touch". New law xi added: If, in the case of a run in, the ball be held in a scrummage, it shall not be lawful for the holder to transmit it to another of his own side. New law xiii added: It is not fair to hack and hold at the same time. Old law xxv / new law xiv: replace "or above the knee" with "or unless below the knee". Delete old law xix: "No player but the first on his side, may be hacked, except in a scrummage". Old law xxviii / new law xv: replace "No player may wear projecting nails or iron plates on the heels or soles of his shoes or boots" with "No one wearing projecting nails or iron plates on the soles or heels of his shoes or boots shall be allowed to play". Old law v (part 2) / new law xvii: replace "when caught" with "and when caught". Old law v (part 3) / new law xviii: replace "even though it touch two hands" with "and if it touch two hands the try will be lost". Old law v (part 4) / new law xix: replace "and it must go over the bar and between the posts" with "It shall be a goal if the ball go over the bar (whether it touch or no)" Old law v (part 4) / new law xix: append "but no player may stand on the goal bar to interrupt it going over". Old law xv / new law xxi: replace "in or through touch" with "in touch". Old law xvi / new law xxii: replace "attempt" with "attempts" Old law xvii / new law xxiii: delete "on big side". Old law xviii / new law xxiv: replace "the opposite side" with "one of the opposite party". New law xxv added: "In case of a player getting a fair catch immediately in front of his own goal, he may not retire behind the line to kick it". Old law xxxvi / new law xxviii: replace "the opposite side may take a punt or drop, without running" with the opposite side may take a punt or drop, without running, (after touching the ball on the ground)". Old law xxxvi / new law xxviii: append "but such drop may not be a goal". Old law xxxiii / new law xxix: replace "The Island is all in goal" with "That part of the island which is in front of the line of goal is in touch, that behind it in goal". Old law xxii / new law xxx: replace "the heads of sides or houses" with "heads of sides and houses, or their deputies". Old law xxii / new law xxx: replace in footnote "Deputies may be allowed to act by the head of the School-side, at the Sixth match" with "The head of the School side in the Sixth match must always appoint at least six deputies". Old law xx / new law xxxii: replace "but after three days" with "or after 3 days". Old law xxv / new law xxxvii: prepend "Old Rugbeians shall be allowed to play at the matches of football, not, however, without the consent of the two heads of the sides; but" (this text was in one of the "Resolutions" preceding the 1845 laws). Old law xxv / new law xxxvii: replace "No strangers, in any match" with "no stranger". Delete old law xxxi: "Nobody may wear cap or jersey without leave from the head of his house". Delete old law xxxiv: "At little sides the goals shall be four paces wide, and in kicking a goal the ball must pass out of the reach of any player present". (Wikisource contributor note)
* ↑ The head of the School side in the Sixth match must always appoint at least six deputies.
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