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48 results returned for ruck
15 Ruck
Principle The purpose of a ruck is to allow players to compete for the ball which is on the ground. Forming a ruck 15.1 A ruck can take place only in the field of play. 15.2 A ruc ... h is on the ground. 15.3 Players involved in all stages of the ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips. Sanction: Free-kick. Offside at a ruck 15.4 Each team has an offsid
Charging into the ruck - February 2010
Players entering a ruck must do so in accordance with the Laws of the Game. Referees are reminded that appropriate binding is a requirement, and charging into a ruck is dangerous play and must be penalised as such. The video clips below all show examples of illegal charges into the ruck. Law text JOINING A RUCK A player joining a ruck must bind on a team-mate or an opponent, usin
Offside at the ruck - May 2014
When a scrum half attempts to retrieve the ball from a ruck, the ball is not out until that player has picked the ball up from the ground. In the clip the scrum half is taken out by the player before the ball is off the ground and this would be deemed to be offside by the player tackling the scrum half. If, however, the scrum half had picked up the ball and a defending player tackles the scru
2026-06 Law clarification - Actions of a scrum half when ending a ruck
World Rugby have issued a new formal law clarification relating to the actions of a scrum half when ending a ruck. It can be found here.
2025-06 Law clarification - Diving over a ruck to score - June 25
World Rugby have issued a new formal law clarification relating to the actions of a ball carrier diving over a ruck to score a try. This can be found here .
Law 15: Ruck
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Unplayable ball in ruck or tackle
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Intentionally collapsing ruck or maul
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Handling ball in ruck or scrum
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Offside at scrum, ruck or maul
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Joining a ruck or a maul in front of the back foot and from the side
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Key contests areas in the game
These ten questions relate to key contest areas in rugby - Kick-offs, Restarts, Tackle, Ruck and Maul.
Clarification 3-2007
f Manager GRU Law Reference 16 Date 2007-10-01 Request 1. A ruck is formed and the ball is playable for Team A. All players in Team B now leave the ruck and step back. Is there still a ruck or has the ruck ended? Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee A ruck ends successfully when the ball leaves the ruck or when the ball enters in goal i.e. on or over the goal line. A ruck end
Definitions
y Scrum, lineout, ruck or maul. Place-kick The ball is kicked after it has been place ... k or free kick is not a restart kick. Ruck A phase of play where one or more players from eac ... d. Rucking Legally using one’s feet to try to win or keep possession of the ball in a ruck.
Enforcement of current law - refereeing at the breakdown - March 2020
g player LAW 15 – Ruck Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet. Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck. A “jackler” is a player who wins possession of the ball before a ruck forms Reward the player who wins the race for possessio
Clarification 3-2021
n / HP Ref Manager HP 15’s Referee Manager Law Reference 15 Date 2021-12-10 Request RUCK SIDE EXTENSIO ... e to players. See attached clips of ruck side extensions: CLARIFICATION REQUEST: Are the action ... s to your own side of the ruck, in order to advance closer to the opposition side of the ruck, as show ... m the ruck. These actions should be discouraged. If a player is fully bound and they have moved beyon
Side entry - July 2022
w with regards to direction and angle of arriving players at the breakdown, ruck and maul. The key message is that players “square up” to enter the breakdown/ruck. Existing law: Tackle Law 14. ... d with [their tackle] responsibilities and a ruck has not formed. Tackle law 14.8c - Other players must arrive at the tackle from the direction of their own goal line before playing the ball. Ruc
Clarification 2-2022
d for clarity relating to when a ball is deemed to be leaving/emerging from a ruck and when such a ball can be dived on to claim control of the ball. Law 15 describes how a ruck ends, and says a playe ... s Law 15.16: “Players must not: d) Fall over the ball as it is coming out of a ruck.” Law 15.18: “A ruck ends and play continues when the ball leaves the ruck or when the ball in the ruc
Tag Rugby
d, play restarts with a ruck ball to the team last in possession of the ball. If neither team was in possession, the attacking team is awarded the ruck ball. 6.9 Contact with the referee (a) Followin ... r team gains an advantage in the field of play the referee awards a ruck ball to the team that las ... s with a ruck ball to the team last in possession of the ball. If neither team was in possession, the tea
Laws app - what's new
d into full law (the GLT designation removed from laws content) Minor changes to law wording ... t in a ruck is over May 2026 New Law Application Guideline covering player ... d March 2026 New clarification covering disciplinary issues arising from a charge into a ruck&nbs ... n relating to deliberate actions at a kick-off June 2025 Clarification around diving over a ruc
Clarification 7-2009
m the way that players are required to join a ruck which appears to be covered by a number of sections in the Law Book and in particular: Law 16.2 (b) A player joining a ruck must bind onto the ruc ... t not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto a player in the ruck or maul. This leads to the following questions: 1. Does a player joining a ruck have to bind on a team-mate? 2. Can a playe
Touch Rugby
n an infringement has not occurred, play resumes with a ruck ball to the team in possession of the ball when play stopped. If neither team had possession the attacking team is awarded the ruck ball. 6.6 The bal ... e awards a ruck ball, ground touch or free pass to the team that last played the ball. (b) If either tea ... d the ruck ball. 7.3 The ball must not be kicked in open play. Match organisers may permit kicking in ope
2025-01 - Global Law Trials
r play away from the ruck/maul/scrum Not straight at uncontested lineout = play on The followin ... l laws content . Timings Rationale: Shorter stoppages in play Conversio ... 9 to enable more ball in flow from base of ruck, maul and scrum Ruck: New 15.18 15.18: A player who is, or was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m), and who is attemptin
Shape of the Game: Reinforcement of current law - March 2024
g up play away from a tackle/ruck, there are a number of existing laws which we remind all stakeholders about: Ending a ruck 15.17 : When the ball has been clearly won by a team at the ruck, and is available to be played, the referee calls “use it”, after which the ball must be played away from the ruck within five seconds. Sanction: Scrum Definitions: Played: The bal
10 Offside and onside in open play
n. Retiring from a ruck, maul, scrum or lineout 10.9 A player who is offside at a ruck, maul, scrum or lineout remains offside, even after the ruck, maul, scrum or lineout has ended. 10.10 The playe
Maul - June 2026
w Clarification 3-2021 relating to ruck entry.) Law 16.10 All players in a maul must be caugh ... e is a line through the ball. Law 18.33 : When a ruck or maul forms at the mark of touch, a participating player may either: a) join the ruck or maul; or b) Retire to the offside line which is the hindmost foot of that player’s team in the ruck or maul. Law 18.37 : The lineout ends when b) A ruc
Clarification 2-2026
6 Request NZRU have asked: Are the actions of a scrum half moving beyond the back foot of the ruck and moving the ball with their hands consistent with Ruck laws? Relevant Laws Law 15: Ruck Offside at a ruck - 15.4: Each team has an offside line that runs parallel to the try line through the hindmost point of any ruck participant. If that point is on or behind the try line, the offsid
9 Foul play
t in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player who is not in possession of the ball must not hold, push, charg ... n: Penalty. 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. a. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or mau ... s. Sanction: Penalty. c. A player must not intentionally collapse a ruck or a maul. Sanction: Penalt
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
g on negative player actions. For example, trapping players into ruck, and first arriving player ... l-carrier immediately, and 14.8b Remain on their feet when they play the ball. Ruck law 15.12: Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck Maul law 16.9: All other player
18 Touch, quick throw and lineout
f, or a tackle, ruck or maul took place within the half, or an opponent touched the ball within the hal ... d The defending team took the ball into their 22, no tackle, ruck or maul took place and no opponent touche ... r the defending team did not take the ball into their 22 or a tackle, ruck or maul took place within the 2 ... r that, their offside line is a line through the ball. 18.33 When a ruck or maul forms at the mark of touc
14 Tackle
n of their own try line provided they have complied with the above responsibilities and a ruck ha ... l 14.11 The tackle ends when: a. A ruck is formed. b. A player on their feet from either tea
Clarification 1-2025
e 2025 Request At a ruck/breakdown close to the goal line, the attacking scrum half picks up the ball and dives forward over the ruck in an attempt to score a try. Is this legal or shoul ... e they are in relation to the try-line: Law 15.16b: A player must not jump on top of a ruc ... e Clarification 2022-3 ). In these specific ruck situations, it would be difficult to either dive safel
19 Scrum
l was made dead. The attacking team. An unplayable tackle or ruck. In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the tackle or ruck took place. The team last moving forward. A mau ... f or restart kick was taken. The non-kicking team. Failure to “use it” at scrum, ruck or maul. In the scrum zone at the point closest to where the scrum, ruck or maul took place. The tea
XRugby
n below the line of the arm pit. Ruck A ruck comprises a maximum of two players from each tea
2024-07 Law changes
t on 1 July 2024. From that date, they will be reflected in World Rugby's digital law content. &nbs ... t at the ruck but must not drop their weight onto them or target the lower limbs. with: A player ma
Clarification 1-2005
9 Request The IRFU has requested a ruling with regard Law 16-Ruck 1. To paraphrase the definitio ... l Play. In 16.3(f) it states that 'a player rucking for the ball must not ruck players on the groun ... n a player is in a ruck and bound correctly {Law 16.2(b)} and that any player not caught in or bound in the ruck cannot be rucking for the ball and is therefore liable to penalty for Dangerous Pla
8 Scoring
8.1 Methods and points value of scoring: a. Try. Five points. b. Conversion. Two points. c. Penalty try. Seven points. d. Penalty goal. Three points. e. Dropped goal. Three points. Try 8.2 A try is scored when an attacking player: a. Is first to ground the ball in the opponents’ in-goal. b. Is first to ground the ball when a scrum, ruck or maul reaches the try lin
Clarification 1-2026
t with appropriately: Law 9.20 (a): A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul. Definition: Bindin ... e the line of the shoulders. Relevant Laws Law 9: Foul Play - Dangerous play in a ruck and mau ... e a. 9.20 Dangerous play in a ruck or maul. a. A player must not charge into a ruck or mau
Clarification 8-2006
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 8-2006 Union / HP Ref Manager FFR Law Reference 16 Date 2006-11-29 Request The FFR has requested a ruling with regard to Law 16 Ruck Question: 1. Can the referee allow a defende ... r coming from his side to intervene on the ball as soon as it emerges from the ruck, by diving ove
Clarification 2-2018
n of World Rugby’s Law Variation Trial with respect to Law 16, Amended Ruck Law (Law 15 as of 1 January 2018): “A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet andover the ball whic ... m The Fifteens Law Review Group met on Monday 16 April and agreed to bring the Ruck law trial into ful ... d. A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and ove