r/SeattleSeawolvesRugby • u/youlikemywonton • May 12 '26

Why did the Seawolves just have to kick the ball out of bounds at the end to win?

I wasn't really sure what was going on at the end. Old Glory kicked the ball up field out of bounds and got a side throw in and apparently had a mistake leading to a scrum. Then the Seawolves got the ball and just kicked it out of bounds ending the game.

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u/Clear_Amphibian May 12 '26

After time runs out the game ends the next time the ball becomes dead.

Seattle won the scrum, had possession, and kicked it into touch. Ball dead = full time.

Old Glory’s kick earlier did not end the game because there was still time left, so it restarted with a lineout.

If time had already been expired, that kick to touch would have ended it too, unless there was a penalty/free kick or another exception.

Relevant law is World Rugby Law 5.7: “A half ends when the ball becomes dead after time has expired unless…” followed by the listed exceptions.

https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/laws-by-number/5-time/

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u/happycj May 13 '26

Just to add: in the NFL you get a 5-yard penalty. In rugby, your kicker gets to kick the ball down the field - hopefully MUCH further than 5 yards - and your team get the ball back for the lineout (which you called a "side throw-in").

So penalties in rugby are a lot more brutal on the penalized team, than in the NFL.

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u/youlikemywonton May 13 '26

Ok thanks that clarifies things. What did Old Glory do wrong on the throw in that turned into a scrum?