A 50:22 can change who throws in at the next lineout. Start with the kick itself, then rewind the phase to check the ball’s earlier path.
Check the kick in three steps
- A player kicks from their own half.
- The ball goes indirectly into touch inside the opponents’ 22.
- The ball’s earlier path meets Law 18.8(a).
Rewind before ruling it out
If the kicking team had brought the ball back into its own half, a tackle, ruck or maul must take place there, or an opponent must touch the ball there, after that return and before the kick. The order matters: return first, qualifying event in that half next, kick afterwards. If the team had not taken the ball into its own half, this condition is met.
Keep the restart exception narrow
The kick-off or restart kick itself cannot produce a 50:22. A later kick in open play is judged against the usual criteria; it is not automatically excluded because the phase began with a restart.
What the team earns
When the conditions are met, the kicking team throws in at the mark of touch, normally where the ball reaches the touchline. If that point is within five metres of the try line, the lineout is formed on the five-metre line instead. That is a lineout opportunity, not points or possession guaranteed before the throw.