A 40-20 kick is a tactical kick in rugby league that aims to bounce the ball into touch within the oppositions 20-meter area. The 40-20 rule was introduced by the ARL in Australia in 1997 to reward accurate kicking in general play, and it has since been adopted in Britain as well, at all levels. For a successful 40-20 kick, the kicker must be behind his sides 40-meter line when he kicks the ball, the ball must first hit the ground within the field of play, and the ball must then go over the sidelines of the field of play (into touch) past the opponents 20-meter line. If the kick is successful, the attacking team regains possession with a scrum, which gains valuable field position. Before the 40-20 rule, the non-kicking team would have otherwise been awarded the scrum feed. A 40-20 kick is more likely to be successful if the defending teams wingers and fullback are positioned relatively close to the attacking team. The effectiveness of a 40-20 kick depends on the skill and confidence of the kicker. If the kicker hasnt shown the ability to execute this type of kick accurately and consistently, then its probably a poor option in a close match.