Mid Canterbury Rugby – Forceback Competition 2026
Fast‑paced, fun, competitive, and open to all levels, this is your chance to show off your boot and lift your fitness in a short, high‑energy summer competition.
Monday afternoons, running from 2nd February to 23rd February.
- Teenage Grades: from 5:00pm
- Senior and Women’s Grades: from 6:00pm
Tinwald RFC
The full draw will be released once registrations close. Regular matches to kick off from 5:30 - last matches 8pm latest.
Forceback is built for speed, skill, and strategy. Matches are short, intense, and a great way to sharpen those kicking skills for the 2026 footy season. Bring your kicking boots, grab your mates, and get involved.
- Teams of 4 - 2 on the field at a time
- Rolling subs
- Open to teenage (U15 & U18), senior men's, and women’s players
Follow the link below to register your team of four and secure your spot. MCRU Forceback Tournament – Fill out form
All information and enquiries to Jack@midcanterburyrugby.co.nz
MCRU Forceback Competition Rules
Team & Player Setup
- Each team consists of 4 players.
- Only 2 players per team are on the field at any given time.
- Rolling substitutions are allowed at any time during play.
Scoring System
- 1 point: Punt kick through the posts and over the crossbar.
- 2 points: Drop kick through the posts and over the crossbar.
- 3 points: Drop kick from 40+ metres through the posts and over the crossbar.
Game Duration
- Two halves of 14 minutes each.
- Running clock (no stoppage time).
- 1-minute halftime break – teams swap ends and restart with a drop kick from halfway.
Gameplay Rules
- A catch on the full (without bouncing) allows the catching team to advance 5 steps forward from the catch point.
- A knock-on results in an immediate handover at the spot of the error.
- Out on the full: If the ball is kicked directly into touch, possession is turned over and play restarts from where the kick was made.
- Dead ball in-goal: Opposition receives the ball from where the kick was made.
- No running with the ball or passing to a teammate in a forward position. Penalty: handover.
- The team in possession may pass the ball, but not forward.
- Once the ball has stopped or been trapped/caught, the attacking team has 5 seconds to kick the ball (referee calls “Use it”).
- The defending team may not make direct contact with the player in possession and must stand 5 metres away. A 5‑metre penalty applies for any contact or for being inside the 5‑metre zone.
Restart Rules
- The game starts with a drop kick from halfway (must travel at least 10 metres).
- If the restart kick goes out on the full or dead in-goal, the opposition receives the ball at halfway.
- After a score, the scoring team kicks to the opposition from halfway.
Match Scoring
- Team with the highest points at full time wins.
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
- Points for and against will be recorded for ladder positions.
