Two of the last four Aviva Premiership Rugby Finals have gone into extra-time. If the scores are level at the end of 80 minutes today – as they were last season when Exeter Chiefs played Wasps in last season’s showpiece – this is what will happen…
Extra Time and Kicking Competition Regulations
REGULATION 4.3 (B)
In the Premiership Final, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be an immediate period of extra time between the teams of 10 minutes each way, with a one minute interval.
If the scores remain equal after this period of extra time then the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time).
If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition (as set out in Schedule 1) to determine the winner.
SCHEDULE 1 – PLACE KICKING COMPETITION
If at the end of the Premiership Final referred to in Regulation 4.3 (b) above the scores remain equal and the number of tries scored in the Match (including during extra-time) remain equal then the Referee will conduct a place kick competition to determine the winner of the Match according to the following procedures:-
All Players and the Match Officials will remain on the playing area. The Referee will call the captains of the two teams at the end of the Match to the centre circle and will conduct two coin tosses. The first toss of the coin will determine which team selects the end of the playing area at which all place kicks will be taken; the second toss of the coin will determine which team kicks first or second.
Team A and Team B will each nominate 3 kickers from the Players on the pitch at the end of extra time to participate in the place kick competition.
The Match Officials and the six nominated Players (3 from each side) will assemble on the halfway line. All other Players and team management must remain in the technical areas. No one other than the Match Officials and the participating Players is allowed in the playing area or behind the posts for the duration of the kicking competition.
Each kicker will be allocated a number i.e. Kicker 1, Kicker 2 or Kicker 3. This designation cannot change.
If during the place kick competition any of the 3 kickers becomes injured he will be replaced by a player who was on the pitch at the end of extra time.
The first phase of the competition will consist of 6 kicks from 6 positions on the field as shown in the diagram.
Each kicker will take 2 kicks in the following order:-
Kicker 1 from team A and Kicker 1 from team B will each take a kick from position 1.
Kicker 2 from team A and Kicker 2 from team B will each take a kick from position 2.
Kicker 3 from team A and Kicker 3 from team B will each take a kick from position 3.
Kicker 1 from team A and Kicker 1 from team B will each take a kick from position 4.
Kicker 2 from team A and Kicker 2 from team B will each take a kick from position 5.
Kicker 3 from team A and Kicker 3 from team B will each take a kick from position 6.
If the teams are level at the end of the 6 kick competition there will be a ‘sudden death competition’.
All kicks will take place from position 4 and kicks will be taken in the following order:-
First to kick will be Kicker 1 from each team
Second to kick will be Kicker 2 from each team
Third to kick will be Kicker 3 from each team
Kicks will continue in this order until a point is reached where each team has taken the same number of sudden death kicks but one team has scored one more than the other team. When this point is reached the team that has scored more successful kicks will be declared the winner.
For the avoidance of doubt the Match Referee is the sole judge of whether a kick has been successful. In reaching this decision the Match Referee may rely on assistance from his Assistant Referees and/or TV Match Official.
