When is a line out formed?... The line out is another one of the awesome sites of rugby union. It is a way of re-starting play after the ball has been knocked or kicked out of play past the touch line. The line out is taken on the exact spot where the ball went out of play. It can have anywhere between three to eight players from each side in it, up to 16 in total, all aiming to get their hands on the ball for their team. So how does it work? The advantage is with the team throwing in. They get the ball because they were not the team who last touched the ball before it went out. They also get to decide how many players will make up the line out.

Forming a line out... The eight forwards and the scrum-half are the players who make up the line out. The most important players in the line out are the hooker, the two second rows and the scrum-half. They are the players responsible for getting the ball out to the backs or for the rest of the forwards to attack. But that does not mean the other players have nothing to do. Far from it. More will be explained in the next sections. The line out must be formed past the five metre line and no more than 15m in from the touchline. Both teams must have a one metre gap between them. This is very important and something referees can spot a mile off. If the referee decides one team has purposely closed the gap, he will award a penalty to the other team.

Throwing in at the line out... The hooker is usually the player with the task to throw the ball into a line out. Their job is to find the "jumpers", usually the two second rowers. But this is not as easy as it seems. Remember, the other team wants the ball just as much as your team does, so they'll be doing all they can to upset the hooker's throw. The hooker gets a call from one of the jumpers or the scrum half, usually in a code no-one except your team understands, on who to aim the throw at. They must stand behind the touch line when they make their throw. And the throw must be deadly straight, otherwise the referee will have the line out taken again, but this time the opposition get the throw in.

When is a line out re-taken?... The line out may look very simple, but it has plenty of laws every player must follow:

The ball must be thrown straight

All players not in the line out must be 10m behind the last man in the line out

No player can use a one of the opposition to use as support when they are jumping

No player is allowed to push, charge or hold another player in the line out

No player can be lifted before the ball is thrown

No jumper can use the outside of their arm to catch or deflect the ball Depending on how serious the offence is, the referee will either award a penalty or free-kick to the team who did not make the offence.

The scrum has collapsed before the ball has been fed or before the ball