Rules of the game
Some rules are simple and necessary and easy to include.
Some rules are necessary to know but very complex and technical. So it's best to include just the most important parts of them when getting together basic rugby rules.
On this page get to know the basics. For some rules the basics are just a few words.
Where there is a link, click to get what you need to know. For full details of rugby rules, follow this link to the IRB Laws.
No rules specifically mention the rugby sidestep.
Sidesteps are special ways you move the ball towards the opposition goal-line when you are carrying the ball.
1,) Field of play - lines, markings, layoutLines everywhere! Some solid, some dashed. What do they all mean and which are most important?
Get to know more about the basic rugby rules by learning about the field, also known as the rugby pitch.
Look at the field. It's a great place to start your basic rugby rules.
Easy, step by step, know the rugby field , some associated rules and additional interesting information.
2.) The ball
Bit of a weird shape for a ball!
True, but it does make the game pretty interesting.
Get to know the ball so you catch it well or predict where it`s going to bounce and where it will go after it bounces.
You can make the ball do what you want it to do...
...when you know all about the rugby ball.
3.) Players - how many, substitutesOne of the simple basic rugby rules - maximum of 15 players on each side. With up to 7 substitutes allowed.
4.) Clothing - what you need for gamesRugby gear is shirt, shorts, underwear, socks and boots! - talk to current players for advice on kit - especially boots. Some minimal padding is allowed.
5.) Time - how long is a matchTwo 40 minute halves, maximum of 10 minutes half-time break. Use any existing weather conditions, they may change (just my opinion!)
6.) Match Officials - uphold the laws (rules)Referee and two touch judges. Being a match official is not easy, officials provide a great service and deserve support.
Very important in basic rugby rules, always remember the spirit of the rules of rugby...
7.) Basic play - playing the gamePlayers running all over the place! What's going on?
It`s organised chaos, but things are much clearer when you
visit this page and learn about very basic rugby.
8.) Play on! - even when rules are brokenWhat's going on! They just broke the basic rugby rules, but the referee ignored it! Know and understand the "advantage" rule.
Return to Select a topic
9.) Points - tries and goals earn pointsWhy have this team got more points than that one? Why are they trying so hard to get over that line? Why are they kicking at the posts?
Important in basic rugby rules.
Find out how you score tries and kick goals.
Method of scoringPoints awardedTry/Penalty try5Conversion2Penalty goal3Drop goal3.The team with most points at full-time (when the whistle blows for the end of the game) wins the game.
If the scores are equal it`s a draw.
If a winner has to be found, say for a Cup competition, extra time will be played. Competitions have their own rules. There is no concept of a "penalty shoot-out".
10.) Foul Play - Doing anything in the game which is against the rules of rugby or the spirit of the rules.
This is one of the most important basic rugby rules. Be fair, play fair! This rule aims to keep injuries to a minimum.
Ignoring this rule is cowardly. It may result in serious injury to other players.
Improve your game, know this rule
Foul play includes
11.) Offside and Onside in General PlayThat player is right where the ball is. Why don't they pick it up?
It may be because they are offside. This is important in basic rugby rules. If they picked up the ball they would give away a penalty.
Here's a basic rule of thumb.
Aim to stay behind the ball.
Make sure the ball and the player in your team playing the ball are ahead of you in relation to the opposition goal line.
If not, avoid becoming involved in play.
12.) Knock on or Throw forwardSometimes you accidentally mishandle the ball and knock it forwards off your hands or arms. You are allowed to try and regain control.
If you catch it again before it touches another player or touches the ground you can play on. Otherwise it is a "knock on" and play may be stopped.
They want to get the ball to the other end, don't they?
Why do they always throw it backwards!
It's because a pass or "throw forward" is not permitted.
Pass straight across the field...Yes, OK
Pass backwards towards your own goal-line...Yes, OK
Pass forwards towards the opposition goal-line... NO, not permitted!
The hands and any movement must direct the ball backwards (or level).
Because of the speed of the player passing the ball, it is possible (and permitted) that the ball travels forward from the point where the ball is released.
If you intentionally knock on or throw the ball forwards you may be penalized. If what you did prevents a probable try, a penalty try may be awarded.
13.) Kick off and restart kicks - The ball is kicked at the start of each half of the game and for all restarts.
The player kicking the ball must use a drop kick and all players must be behind the ball when it`s kicked - so always stay behind the kicker!
If you`re the kicker, be sure all players are behind you before you kick.
These kicks are taken from the centre of the halfway line
A restart may be with a drop-kick taken on the 22 metre line.
Find how you do drop kicks and other kicks in these pages on kicking.
14.) Ball grounded without a tackle - Sometimes the player holding the ball, or the ball alone, ends up on the ground without a tackle taking place. What happens next?
Find out about the ball on the ground when there is no tackle.
Return to Select a topic
15.) The Tackle - When the ball carrier is tackled (brought to the ground) there are some things you must do and some things you must not do.
It depends on whether you are the ball carrier, the tackler or just another player.
This is important! You need to know about the tackle.
16.) The Ruck - The ball is right there on the ground, Shouldn`t they pick it up?
Sometimes you are not allowed to pick up the ball
It`s useful to know about the ruck
17.) The Maul - They`re all grappling for the ball. What's going on!
Learn about the maul
18.) The Mark - They just caught the ball, and shouted "Mark". Then everything stopped. What's happening?
Find out about the mark
19.) Touch and lineout - Lines running the length of the field mark each side of the field and are called "touch lines".
When the ball crosses a touch line it goes/has gone "into touch".
Play stops and you restart with a "lineout", where the ball is thrown into play between two lines of opposing players, usually the "forwards" of the two teams.
You also restart play with a lineout if a player carrying the ball crosses or even touches a touch line.
Find out more about the lineout now or wait until you visit the pages about how to play rugby.
20.) The scrum - Following some infringments of the rules play is restarted with a scrum.
Eight players from each team bind together in their own 3-4-1 formation in a crouching position.
The two formations engage each other head-on to form a single mass off 16 players.
The ball is then put into the tunnel between the opposing formations and each team attempts to get control of the ball with their feet.
Find out more about the scrum in the pages about how to play rugby.
21.) Penalty and free kicks - Depending on the seriousness of the offence, teams may be awarded a penalty or a free kick when the other team infringes the rules.
In the case of penalties, a kicker may elect to take a place kick shot at the goal posts. If the ball goes over the cross-bar points are awarded.
Visit the kicking skills section for more about place kicks.
22.) In goal
In goal area
This is important in terms of basic rugby rules.
Grounding the ball in the opposition ingoal area results in points being awarded because this is how you score rugby tries. (See rule 9 for more try details)
Grounding the ball in your own in goal area makes the ball dead and play will be restarted. There is no concept of an "own try" unlike football (soccer) where you can score for the opposition with an "own goal".
Some rules are necessary to know but very complex and technical. So it's best to include just the most important parts of them when getting together basic rugby rules.
On this page get to know the basics. For some rules the basics are just a few words.
Where there is a link, click to get what you need to know. For full details of rugby rules, follow this link to the IRB Laws.
No rules specifically mention the rugby sidestep.
Sidesteps are special ways you move the ball towards the opposition goal-line when you are carrying the ball.
1,) Field of play - lines, markings, layoutLines everywhere! Some solid, some dashed. What do they all mean and which are most important?
Get to know more about the basic rugby rules by learning about the field, also known as the rugby pitch.
Look at the field. It's a great place to start your basic rugby rules.
Easy, step by step, know the rugby field , some associated rules and additional interesting information.
2.) The ball
Bit of a weird shape for a ball!
True, but it does make the game pretty interesting.
Get to know the ball so you catch it well or predict where it`s going to bounce and where it will go after it bounces.
You can make the ball do what you want it to do...
...when you know all about the rugby ball.
3.) Players - how many, substitutesOne of the simple basic rugby rules - maximum of 15 players on each side. With up to 7 substitutes allowed.
4.) Clothing - what you need for gamesRugby gear is shirt, shorts, underwear, socks and boots! - talk to current players for advice on kit - especially boots. Some minimal padding is allowed.
5.) Time - how long is a matchTwo 40 minute halves, maximum of 10 minutes half-time break. Use any existing weather conditions, they may change (just my opinion!)
6.) Match Officials - uphold the laws (rules)Referee and two touch judges. Being a match official is not easy, officials provide a great service and deserve support.
Very important in basic rugby rules, always remember the spirit of the rules of rugby...
- We all make mistakes
- What we think we saw/heard is sometimes not what really happened
- Just like you, the Match officials are doing their best
- Play to the whistle; it may be your advantage.
7.) Basic play - playing the gamePlayers running all over the place! What's going on?
It`s organised chaos, but things are much clearer when you
visit this page and learn about very basic rugby.
8.) Play on! - even when rules are brokenWhat's going on! They just broke the basic rugby rules, but the referee ignored it! Know and understand the "advantage" rule.
Return to Select a topic
9.) Points - tries and goals earn pointsWhy have this team got more points than that one? Why are they trying so hard to get over that line? Why are they kicking at the posts?
Important in basic rugby rules.
Find out how you score tries and kick goals.
Method of scoringPoints awardedTry/Penalty try5Conversion2Penalty goal3Drop goal3.The team with most points at full-time (when the whistle blows for the end of the game) wins the game.
If the scores are equal it`s a draw.
If a winner has to be found, say for a Cup competition, extra time will be played. Competitions have their own rules. There is no concept of a "penalty shoot-out".
10.) Foul Play - Doing anything in the game which is against the rules of rugby or the spirit of the rules.
This is one of the most important basic rugby rules. Be fair, play fair! This rule aims to keep injuries to a minimum.
Ignoring this rule is cowardly. It may result in serious injury to other players.
Improve your game, know this rule
Foul play includes
- obstructing opponents
- punching, trampling, kicking or tripping players
- tackling too early, too late, above the shoulders
- tackling a player when they are in the air
- doing anything which is unfair or dangerous.
11.) Offside and Onside in General PlayThat player is right where the ball is. Why don't they pick it up?
It may be because they are offside. This is important in basic rugby rules. If they picked up the ball they would give away a penalty.
Here's a basic rule of thumb.
Aim to stay behind the ball.
Make sure the ball and the player in your team playing the ball are ahead of you in relation to the opposition goal line.
If not, avoid becoming involved in play.
12.) Knock on or Throw forwardSometimes you accidentally mishandle the ball and knock it forwards off your hands or arms. You are allowed to try and regain control.
If you catch it again before it touches another player or touches the ground you can play on. Otherwise it is a "knock on" and play may be stopped.
They want to get the ball to the other end, don't they?
Why do they always throw it backwards!
It's because a pass or "throw forward" is not permitted.
Pass straight across the field...Yes, OK
Pass backwards towards your own goal-line...Yes, OK
Pass forwards towards the opposition goal-line... NO, not permitted!
The hands and any movement must direct the ball backwards (or level).
Because of the speed of the player passing the ball, it is possible (and permitted) that the ball travels forward from the point where the ball is released.
If you intentionally knock on or throw the ball forwards you may be penalized. If what you did prevents a probable try, a penalty try may be awarded.
13.) Kick off and restart kicks - The ball is kicked at the start of each half of the game and for all restarts.
The player kicking the ball must use a drop kick and all players must be behind the ball when it`s kicked - so always stay behind the kicker!
If you`re the kicker, be sure all players are behind you before you kick.
These kicks are taken from the centre of the halfway line
- kick-off at the start of the game
- kick-off when the game is resumed after half time
- re-starts after each occasion points are scored
A restart may be with a drop-kick taken on the 22 metre line.
- when the ball has been "made dead" in the ingoal area
Find how you do drop kicks and other kicks in these pages on kicking.
14.) Ball grounded without a tackle - Sometimes the player holding the ball, or the ball alone, ends up on the ground without a tackle taking place. What happens next?
Find out about the ball on the ground when there is no tackle.
Return to Select a topic
15.) The Tackle - When the ball carrier is tackled (brought to the ground) there are some things you must do and some things you must not do.
It depends on whether you are the ball carrier, the tackler or just another player.
This is important! You need to know about the tackle.
16.) The Ruck - The ball is right there on the ground, Shouldn`t they pick it up?
Sometimes you are not allowed to pick up the ball
It`s useful to know about the ruck
17.) The Maul - They`re all grappling for the ball. What's going on!
Learn about the maul
18.) The Mark - They just caught the ball, and shouted "Mark". Then everything stopped. What's happening?
Find out about the mark
19.) Touch and lineout - Lines running the length of the field mark each side of the field and are called "touch lines".
When the ball crosses a touch line it goes/has gone "into touch".
Play stops and you restart with a "lineout", where the ball is thrown into play between two lines of opposing players, usually the "forwards" of the two teams.
You also restart play with a lineout if a player carrying the ball crosses or even touches a touch line.
Find out more about the lineout now or wait until you visit the pages about how to play rugby.
20.) The scrum - Following some infringments of the rules play is restarted with a scrum.
Eight players from each team bind together in their own 3-4-1 formation in a crouching position.
The two formations engage each other head-on to form a single mass off 16 players.
The ball is then put into the tunnel between the opposing formations and each team attempts to get control of the ball with their feet.
Find out more about the scrum in the pages about how to play rugby.
21.) Penalty and free kicks - Depending on the seriousness of the offence, teams may be awarded a penalty or a free kick when the other team infringes the rules.
In the case of penalties, a kicker may elect to take a place kick shot at the goal posts. If the ball goes over the cross-bar points are awarded.
Visit the kicking skills section for more about place kicks.
22.) In goal
In goal area
This is important in terms of basic rugby rules.
Grounding the ball in the opposition ingoal area results in points being awarded because this is how you score rugby tries. (See rule 9 for more try details)
Grounding the ball in your own in goal area makes the ball dead and play will be restarted. There is no concept of an "own try" unlike football (soccer) where you can score for the opposition with an "own goal".
Learn the Lingo
Drop kick: A kick made when the player drops the ball and it bounces off the ground prior to being kicked. Worth three points if it travels through the goalposts. Drop kicks are also used to restart play after a score.
Forward pass: A violation that usually results in a scrum to the defending team.
Infringement: A violation of a law.
Knock on: The accidental hitting or dropping of the ball forward. The infringement is the same as that for a forward pass: a scrum to the other team.
Non-Contact Rugby: A Version of rugby designated to introduce the game to first time players (touch rugby). Two hand-tag replaces the tackle.
Penalties: Penalties occur regularly in rugby. Unlike other sports, there typically aren't yardage penalties and only occasionally do teams have to play short handed. Instead, the non-offending team is usually awarded a choice to kick the ball to gain field advantage. Some of the more important penalties are listed below:
Penalty Kick: Awarded after a serious infringement of the law. Offenders are required to retreat 10 yards while the opposing team is given the opportunity to restart play unopposed. Teams will often kick the ball up field and out of bounds to gain field advantage. When they do this, play is restarted as a lineout where the ball goes out of bounds. If in range, they may attempt a kick at the goal posts, worth three points. Finally, they may simply tap the ball with their foot and run with it.
Free Kick: This is awarded after a less serious infringement of the law. The free kick is similar to the penalty kick except a player cannot attempt a kick at goal to try to score three points. A player must restart with a tap kick or attempt to kick the ball out of bounds. If the kick is made from in front of the 22 meters (25 yards) line and goes directly out of bounds, the lineout occurs back where the kick was first kicked. If the ball bounces out of bounds, or if the kick was taken from behind the 22 meter (25 yards) line the resulting lineout is where the ball crossed the touch line.
Sin Bin: On occasion, the referee will send a player to the Sin Bin (behind one of the in goal areas) for a specified period of time, for serious and/or repeated infringements. The team is required to play short-handed until the referee permits the player to return. This penalty is fairly rare, but used by the referees to maintain control of the game.
Send-Offs: In extreme cases a referee may send a player off the field for dangerous or reckless play. A player who has been sent off is banned from that game and is not permitted to return or be replaced.
Put in: Rolling the ball down the center of the scrum tunnel by the Scrum Half.
Sevens: An abbreviated game of rugby that follows the same laws except a 7's team consists of only seven players and each half is seven minutes long. Much like a game of three-on-three full court basketball, it's a wide-open contest. Because of its wide-open style of play, the Seven's version of rugby is a very entertaining game to watch.
Set piece: A term for scrums and lineouts because these are the only choreographed plays of the game.
Support players: Players who position themselves to increase the ball transfer options of the ball carrier.
Tap and play kick/ move: A gentle kick to oneself, followed by a pick up, used to restart play after either a penalty or free kick is awarded.
Throw in: Throwing the ball down the middle of a lineout.
Touchline: The side boundary of the field (sideline).
Try line: The end boundary of the field (goal line).
22-Meter line: Is a line 22 meters (25 yards) from the try line. If a kick is made from behind the "22", the opposing team gets a lineout where the ball went out of bounds. If the kick was made in front of the "22", the resulting lineout is from the point of the kick if the ball goes directly out of bounds.
Forward pass: A violation that usually results in a scrum to the defending team.
Infringement: A violation of a law.
Knock on: The accidental hitting or dropping of the ball forward. The infringement is the same as that for a forward pass: a scrum to the other team.
Non-Contact Rugby: A Version of rugby designated to introduce the game to first time players (touch rugby). Two hand-tag replaces the tackle.
Penalties: Penalties occur regularly in rugby. Unlike other sports, there typically aren't yardage penalties and only occasionally do teams have to play short handed. Instead, the non-offending team is usually awarded a choice to kick the ball to gain field advantage. Some of the more important penalties are listed below:
Penalty Kick: Awarded after a serious infringement of the law. Offenders are required to retreat 10 yards while the opposing team is given the opportunity to restart play unopposed. Teams will often kick the ball up field and out of bounds to gain field advantage. When they do this, play is restarted as a lineout where the ball goes out of bounds. If in range, they may attempt a kick at the goal posts, worth three points. Finally, they may simply tap the ball with their foot and run with it.
Free Kick: This is awarded after a less serious infringement of the law. The free kick is similar to the penalty kick except a player cannot attempt a kick at goal to try to score three points. A player must restart with a tap kick or attempt to kick the ball out of bounds. If the kick is made from in front of the 22 meters (25 yards) line and goes directly out of bounds, the lineout occurs back where the kick was first kicked. If the ball bounces out of bounds, or if the kick was taken from behind the 22 meter (25 yards) line the resulting lineout is where the ball crossed the touch line.
Sin Bin: On occasion, the referee will send a player to the Sin Bin (behind one of the in goal areas) for a specified period of time, for serious and/or repeated infringements. The team is required to play short-handed until the referee permits the player to return. This penalty is fairly rare, but used by the referees to maintain control of the game.
Send-Offs: In extreme cases a referee may send a player off the field for dangerous or reckless play. A player who has been sent off is banned from that game and is not permitted to return or be replaced.
Put in: Rolling the ball down the center of the scrum tunnel by the Scrum Half.
Sevens: An abbreviated game of rugby that follows the same laws except a 7's team consists of only seven players and each half is seven minutes long. Much like a game of three-on-three full court basketball, it's a wide-open contest. Because of its wide-open style of play, the Seven's version of rugby is a very entertaining game to watch.
Set piece: A term for scrums and lineouts because these are the only choreographed plays of the game.
Support players: Players who position themselves to increase the ball transfer options of the ball carrier.
Tap and play kick/ move: A gentle kick to oneself, followed by a pick up, used to restart play after either a penalty or free kick is awarded.
Throw in: Throwing the ball down the middle of a lineout.
Touchline: The side boundary of the field (sideline).
Try line: The end boundary of the field (goal line).
22-Meter line: Is a line 22 meters (25 yards) from the try line. If a kick is made from behind the "22", the opposing team gets a lineout where the ball went out of bounds. If the kick was made in front of the "22", the resulting lineout is from the point of the kick if the ball goes directly out of bounds.