Tackled in-goal...what's the right call?

[Mr Sheen]

First time post for me. This is one from a game for which I ran the line yesterday.
An attacking winger dives over the line expecting to score. He's tackled in mid-air by a defender who turns him on his back on the ground in-goal. With his arms pinned, the attacker is unable to touch down. He releases the ball, which rolls away from him and the tackler reaches out and touches it down.
What's the right call?
I'll tell you what was given later.

[DrSTU]

22 drop out

[aggie ref]

Defender downed the ball, 22 m drop out. Unless the attacking winger was held for an inordinate amount of time before he released the ball, in that case 5 m scrum for attacking side for not releasing in tackler.

[OB..]

You cannot have a tackle in in-goal, so there is no obligation on the ball-carrier to release the ball - he could get a 5m scrum under 22.10. However he chose to release the ball, so it was a touchdown for a 22 drop out.

[Dickie E]

He releases the ball, which rolls away from him and the tackler reaches out and touches it down.
What's the right call?

In which direction did the ball roll?

If towards the dead-ball line it is a knock-on with scrum restart.

Otherwise 22 drop-out.

And, in the words of Capitano Schettino, "welcome aboard".

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[Mr Sheen]

Thanks for the replies. On my advice, the referee gave a 22-drop out, in part I think because we were so awe-struck by the tackle. It seems to have been the right decision, unintentionally. I didn't realise then, as seems to be the case based on your advice, that in-goal is not counted as part of the field of play. I take this to mean, although there is some debate, that there is no requirement on the tackler to release the tackled player, allow him to put down the ball, get back on his feet before playing the ball (or for other defenders to enter the tackle area from their side of the ball), that would follow a tackle on the field of play. On reflection, I thought it should have been a penalty try as a result of foul play preventing a try being scored, or at least a five-yard penalty.
As the tackled player was one of our (Under 13) boys, I got a lot of grief from the parents afterwards. Hey, maybe I was right!

[OB..]

Law 15.1 A tackle can only take place in the field of play.

(Belated Welcome.)

[DrSTU]

There's no debate. There's no onus on the quasi-tackler to release the player.

A penalty try would have been completely the wrong sanction.

Thanks for the replies. On my advice, the referee gave a 22-drop out, in part I think because we were so awe-struck by the tackle. It seems to have been the right decision, unintentionally. I didn't realise then, as seems to be the case based on your advice, that in-goal is not counted as part of the field of play. I take this to mean, although there is some debate, that there is no requirement on the tackler to release the tackled player, allow him to put down the ball, get back on his feet before playing the ball (or for other defenders to enter the tackle area from their side of the ball), that would follow a tackle on the field of play. On reflection, I thought it should have been a penalty try as a result of foul play preventing a try being scored, or at least a five-yard penalty.
As the tackled player was one of our (Under 13) boys, I got a lot of grief from the parents afterwards. Hey, maybe I was right!

[Mr Sheen]

Does this mean the requirment to wrap up a tackled player - rather than push or charge - is suspended over the try-line? I've seen defenders get away with hurling themselves at the ball-carrier to dislodge the ball and prevent him grounding many times. Surely the right thing to do is to give a penalty try to deter unsafe tackling?

[Dickie E]

Does this mean the requirment to wrap up a tackled player - rather than push or charge - is suspended over the try-line? I've seen defenders get away with hurling themselves at the ball-carrier to dislodge the ball and prevent him grounding many times. Surely the right thing to do is to give a penalty try to deter unsafe tackling?

Law 10 offences are a different kettle of fish to tackle offences.