Originally posted by IRB
Knockout Matches
For quarter final Matches, semi-final Matches, the Bronze Final and the Final, if
Teams are tied at fulltime, then the winner shall be determined through the following
sequential criteria;
i. Extra time - following an interval of 5 minutes, extra time of 10 minutes each
way (with an interval of 5 minutes) shall be played;
ii. Sudden death - if the scores are tied at the conclusion of extra time, and
following an interval of 5 minutes, then a further extra time of 10 minutes
maximum shall be played. During this period the first Team to score any points
shall be declared the winner (sudden death);
iii. Kicking competition - if after this sudden death period no winner can be
declared, a kicking competition will be organised between the two Teams as
described in the section below. The winner of that competition shall be
declared the winner of the Match.
Kicking competition
If at the end of a knockout Match, after extra time and sudden death periods of play
have been completed, the Teams remain tied, then the referee will conduct a placekicking competition to determine the winner of the Match, according to the following procedures:
1. All players and Match Officials will remain on the playing enclosure. The referee
will call the captains of the two Teams to the centre circle and will conduct a coin
toss. The winner of the coin toss then may either choose which Team kicks first
(in which case the loser chooses the end at which all kicks will be taken) or
choose the end at which all kicks will be taken (in which case the loser chooses
which Team kicks first).
2. Only players on the playing enclosure at the time of the completion of the sudden
death period may take part in the kicking competition. No injured, substituted or
dismissed player may take part at any time. The order in which the players kick
does not have to be predetermined.
3. The Match Officials and Team Members will assemble on the halfway line. Team
Members must remain behind the halfway line in the side of the playing area not
used. No one except the referee, two touch judges and two ball boys is allowed in
the part of the playing area being used for the competition.
4. The five players from each Team will place kick from three different areas, all on
the 22 metre line, as follows:
First area: directly in front of the posts
Second area: on the 15 metre line on the left hand side facing the posts
Third area: on the 15 metre line on the right hand side facing the posts
5. The referee will start the competition by calling the first player selected from the
Team kicking first to the first kicking point. Once the player has taken the kick, the
referee calls a player from the opposing Team to kick from the same area.
6. The next two players (one from each Team) will kick from the second area in turn.
This will continue until all five players from each Team have kicked (the next
players kicking respectively from the third area, first area and finally the second
area), or until one Team is unable to equal the score of the other Team within the
remaining number of kicks.
7. If there are an equal number of successful kicks once each Team has completed
its five kicks, the competition continues on a "sudden death" basis, following the
same order of kickers used in the first five kicks.
8. The competition will continue two kicks at a time (one from each side), going
progressively through the three kicking areas stated above (and repeating the
process if necessary) until one player succeeds with a kick and the player from
the other side taking the same kick misses it. Once this occurs, the Team of the
player who succeeded with the kick will be declared the winner.
9. Throughout the kicking competition:
9.1 Once a player has been handed the ball on the kicking area, he must take
the kick within one minute. Should he take longer, the referee shall
declare the kick void and therefore a miss.
9.2 After each kick, the referee records the number of the player and whether
or not the attempt was successful. The RWC Match Commissioner will
record the same details on the official Match Report.
9.3 Whether or not a goal is scored from each attempt is the sole decision of
the referee, who may at his sole discretion rely on the assistance of his
touch judges. The referee's decision shall be final and binding.
9.4 Once a player has completed their kick, they shall return to stand with
their Team behind the halfway line in the side of the playing area not used.