A coin toss determines the team which will kickoff first. The
kicking team will send their forwards to one side of the pitch at
the 50 metre line. The opposing forwards will move in front of their
opposites, but spread out behind the 10 metre line in preparation to
receive the kick.
The kicker, who can be any member of the team, will
set the ball on the ground and start the match on the referee's
whistle most often kicking the ball high and short to the opposing
forwards (he can also kick it long and deep or away from the
forwards if desired). The kick must travel forwards at least 10
metres and land in bounds. The kicker's forwards will charge down
the pitch attempting to catch the ball themselves. If a receiving
team's forward successfully catches the ball, he will attempt to
advance the ball normally running into a large amount of opposition.
His supporting forwards will then often bind around him to prevent
him being brought to the ground and losing possession of the ball.
The second half of a match is started in the same
way except the teams have switched ends of the pitch and the team
starting the match kicking now receives the ball
