Line-out code

In a line-out with both teams separated by a gap of a metre and the ball being thrown down the middle there should be an equal chance for each team to retreive the ball. To give their own team an advantage the hooker will inform his team-mates via a code how far he intends to throw the ball.

Before the game starts the team will agree on a code. One method is to specify FRONT, MIDDLE or BACK of the lineout by using a three word sentence with unique letters. For example "THE"(front) "BIG"(middle) "DON"(back). Prior to the throw the hooker will shout a three letter code, for example "D" "Z" "E". The team will have agreed on which letter out of the code to use and they will throw away the other two, they are there only to make decryption of the code harder. If the chosen letter to use for all line-outs was the first one, then the only word that has "D" in it is "DON". Therefore the team-mates know the ball is going to be thrown to the back of the lineout.