PLAYERS: 7 players per team
BALL SIZE: 4
FIELD SIZE: ½ Field (touch line to touch line long x goal line to 10m line, wide)
LENGTH OF GAME: 2 x 20-minute halves (maximum) with a 5-minute break at halftime.
SUBS: Teams to use rolling subs to achieve satisfactory game time for all players.
MOUTHGUARD: Recommended
RIP BELTS/RIPS: Rip belts must be worn on the outside of clothing (tops tucked in) and one Rip on each hip.
UNIFORM: Teams to wear the same uniform
STARTING/RESTARTING PLAY: Drop kick for start and restarting play after a try or half time. The kick must travel past the 5m mark. If the kick does not make the 5m mark or goes dead in goal, a free pass is awarded to the receiving team on half-way. When a try is scored, the team that scores then kicks the restart.
ATTACKERS:
- Attackers can run, pass, kick (grubber, cross-field, chip and chase, etc)
- Attackers can hip twist and even spin 360 degrees once. ‘Helicopter’ or continuous spinning will result in a handover.
- After being ripped, the ball carrier must pass the ball within three steps (no stop/play the ball required). If they pass after the three steps post Rip, then it is a turnover. If the player oversteps the three-step mark post rip and returns to the mark to pass the ball, then it’s play on.
- The attacker must then regain their Rip from the defender before they re-join play.
- Four rips in a row leads to a turnover in possession.
DEFENDERS:
- To complete one ‘rip’- one or both of the two Rips from the ball carrier belt must be removed.
- Once ripped, the defender must stop, hold the rip above their head and shout “RIP!”
- Once a rip is made; the offside line becomes the ball, noting the ball carrier remains in play and is allowed to pass or kick within 3 steps of the rip occurring- while all defenders must retreat behind the ball.
- The ripper must then hand the Rip back to the attacking player; if the attacker runs off however, the ripper may place the opponents rip on the ground where the rip was made.
- Four Rips in a row leads to a turnover.
PASSING: The ball can only be passed in a sideways or backwards direction. There are no forward passes. If the ball is passed sideways or backwards landing on the ground and bounces forward, this is not a knock on or forward pass. Either team may re-gather the ball, only if remaining on their feet to continue play.
KICKING, SCRUMS & LINEOUTS:
- Scrums are uncontested, 3 players each.
- The lineout must consist of three players from each team, plus a thrower who can also play receiver after the ball is thrown in. Lifting is Optional.
- Kicking is allowed in Rip Rugby. Normal off-side rules apply. There are no conversions or shots at goal.
REFEREEING A GAME: Shout, “RIP and the number of rip (1, 2, 3, 4,) and PASS!” when a rip has been made. Where possible ‘advantage’ should be played to the non-offending team if there is any chance that they may get the ball. The referee should call ‘advantage’ followed by ‘play on’. If no advantage within a reasonable period, play returns with a scrum, penalty, or free pass.
PENALTIES: Penalty offences are awarded to non-offending team via a tap restart (4 again), scrum, or kick to touch. Penalty offences include:
- Contact of any kind (pushing, tackling, fending, collisions).
- Hiding, fending, or shielding Rips.
- Helicopter/Continuous spinning.
- Offside.
- Diving on the ball on the ground
- Not handing back Rips/ throwing it away
- Passing after overstepping (3 steps)
SCORING:
- Ball must be in contact with hand or player and placed on the tryline or in the in-goal area for a try to be awarded.
- If a player is ripped in goal/ripped and runs into in goal, play restarts with a tap from 5m line out from try line.
- If a player is ripped while mid-air (feet off the ground in a dive to score) and the player is ripped, the try is awarded.
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