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70 results returned for field of play
Definitions
e specified laws, protocols and regulations should be used. F Field of play The area between the try lines and the touch lines. Those lines are not part of the field of play. Flying wedge An illega ... r the opponents’ cross-bar from the field of play. Goal line See Try Line H Half-time The interval betwee ... e in the field of play at right angles to the touchline through the place where the ball is throw
Playing Charter
e and open play. Discipline is an integral part of the Game, both on and off the fiel ... e and teamwork. What this charter does is to give the game a checklist against which the mode of pla ... h on and off the field. The charter covers the basic principles of rugby as they relate to playin ... y and fair play Conduct The legend of William Webb Ellis, who is credited with first picking u
Implementation of the 20minute red card replacement in elite rugby - August 2025
e, will decide all foul play outcomes on the field at the time of the incident. After consultin ... s, not all elite fixtures will have a Television Match Official (TMO) or a Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO) appointed to enable an off-field review process to be used. The 20-minute red card replacement can still be used by the on-field officials even if no off-field review process is available. The rol
Uncontested Scrums - March 2020
s remain on the field of play for the team which caused the introduction of uncontested scrums. Se ... e on to the field to play. The team plays with 13 players for the remainder of the temporary suspension tim ... o nominated players must return to the field to play. The game continues with contested scrums. Scenari ... d to leave the field to allow the hooker to come on to the field to play. The team plays with 13 player
Uncontested Scrums - December 2017
e the field to allow the hooker to come on to the field to play. The team plays with 13 player ... r must leave the field. The TH and the two nominated players must return to the field to play. The gam ... e on to the field to play. The team plays with 13 players for the remainder of the match. Both teams must for ... e the TH prop (HIA) is cleared to play. The following applies: The team cannot field a suitably traine
2026-06 Community Tackle Height law wordings approved
n field play. Note: The phrase "open field play" reflects the trials where low speed, pick and g ... w 14 Principle A tackle can take place anywhere in the field of play the playing area. The action ... l to be available for play immediately. Subsequent tackle laws only apply in the field of play Additional tex ... e the relevant sanction line while either player is in open field play Match organisers have three two choice
3 Team
s the field of play and may be temporarily replaced. The injured player returns to play as soon as the bleeding has been controlled and/or covered. If the player is not available to return to the field of pla ... A: a. Leaves the field of play; and b. Is temporarily replaced (even if all the replacements have been use ... d. If the player is not available to return to the field of play after 12 minutes (actual time) of leavin
13 Players on the ground in open play
l; or Sanction: Penalty. b. Play (but not kick) the ball; or Sanction: Penalty. c. Release the bal ... y either move away from the ball or get up. Sanction: Penalty. 13.3 A player on the ground in the field of play, without the ball is out of the game and must: a. Allow opponents who are not on the ground to play or gain possession of the ball. Sanction: Penalty. b. Not play the ball. Sanction: Penalt
2025-04 Minor law amends to protect medical staff and add minimum perimeter areas
m perimeter areas around the field of play. This gives clarity to stakeholders in this area. Go ... e not appropriately covered the Match Day Doctor (MDD), Time-keeper or Foul play Review Officer (FPRO). By making some minor amends, on-field sanctions and/or misconduct charges can now be applied, shoul ... e-keeper, foul play review officer, and/or independent match day doctor, and, in sevens, two in-goa
Shape of the Game: Reinforcement of current law - March 2024
e, limiting the number of times water carriers could enter the field of play to two moments in each hal ... r the field of play following tries. Law 6.29: The following may enter the playing area provided they do not interfere with play: a. Two nominated water carriers during a stoppage in play… i. In matche ... p play away from a tackle/ruck, there are a number of existing laws which we remind all stakeholder
Tag Rugby
e to use other surfaces provided they are suitable for purpose. 1.2 Dimensions of the field of pla ... y only enter the field of play when the substituted player has left the field of play. 3.4 Sent of ... r. If the misconduct occurs off the field of play the match official will report the matter to the matc ... m gains an advantage, play continues. If either team gains an advantage in the field of pla
21 In-goal
h in the field of play and a lineout is awarded to the opposition. 21.6 A defending player groundin ... l through their opponents’ in-goal from the field of play into touch-in-goal or on or over the dead-bal ... l, catches or picks up a ball that is still in the field of play, that player has taken the bal ... e beyond either) the ball is dead. Depending on how the ball entered in-goal, play restarts with a try-lin
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
g and ensuring Clear and Obvious offences are dealt with on-field. The match official teams, le ... s they enter the field, has successfully reduced unnecessary stoppages and unnecessary influence by wate ... w water carriers onto the field when a try is scored. The timings will match the length of the kic ... d. If an injury stoppage is used, the water carriers must leave the field when the medic does s
Law changes summary - July 2022
s – Goal Line Drop-out, 50:22, jackler protection, banning pre-bound pods in open play (flying wedg ... r to reduce the frequency of water carriers coming onto the field, and to sanction poor behaviour by no ... n from previous clarifications. The wordings will change on the digital laws content from 1 July 202
Dangerous tackles (high tackles) - February 2011
s play. A stiff-arm tackle is dangerous play. A player makes a stiff-arm tackle when using a stiff-ar ... y by Referees and all those involved in the off-field disciplinary process. It is recognised of course, as with other types of illegal and/or foul play, depending on the circumstances of the high tackl
1 The ground
1.1 The surface of the playing enclosure must be safe. 1.2 The permitted surface types are grass, sand, clay, snow or artificial turf (conforming to World Rugby Regulation 22). 1.3 The dimensions of the playing area are shown in the ground diagram. The ground Dimensions Field of play lengt ... h of the field of play is less than 100 metres, the distance between the 10-metre lines and 22-metre line
2026-07 Law updates
p; For example - a charge down from the field of play which goes dead, and a ball carrier carryin ... At World Rugby's Council meeting on 17 June 2026, four of the older Global Law Trials were approved to be moved into full law. The newer law trials remain in play for another season at when they will be reviewed. Therefore the brake foot (for all), and elite rugby water carrier restriction
Beach Fives Rugby
2 Dimensions The field of play of play should be 31 metres in length and 25 metres in width. Eac ... l lines which are outside the field of play (where in-goal areas apply The goal lines which are within the in-goal areas but outside the field of play The touch lines which are outside the field of pla ... d from the field of play. 5.5 Making up time lost: Any playing time lost is made up in the same hal
Beach Tag Rugby
t be safe to play on at all times. (b) The surface must be sand. 1.2 Dimensions The field of pla ... e the field of play (where in-goal areas apply) The goal lines which are within the in-goal areas but outside the field of play The touch lines which are outside the field of play 1.4 Objections to the groun ... y injured and needs to be removed from the field of play, the referee has the discretion to allo
6 Match officials
r and neither team gains an advantage, play continues. If either team gains an advantage in the fiel ... g exceptions: i. When the player throwing in steps on to the field of play as part of their throwin ... r that they are treating. c. Medics cannot field, or touch a ball while it is in live play. Sanctio ... d of play as permitted above. They must not field or touch the ball while it is in live play, includin
Beach Touch Rugby
e the field of play (where in-goal areas apply) The goal lines which are within the in-goal areas but outside the field of play The touch lines which are outside the field of play 1.4 Objection ... r at the touchline. If a player is seriously injured and needs to be removed from the field of play, the refere ... e pass is awarded for an infringement in in-goal, the mark for the pass is in the field of play, fiv
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
s’ in-goal from the field of play and it goes dead through in-goal. In this case the defending tea ... m the field of play by an attacking player and it goes dead through in-goal. Type of restart kic ... s are used to resume play. 12.1 All kick-offs and restart kicks are drop kicks. Sanction: The no ... s restart play on or behind the centre of the half-way line. Sanction: The non-kicking team ha
XRugby
d of play must do so at the half-way line after the replaced player has left the field of pla ... d with a yellow card leaves the field of play until the next try is scored. Implementation Englan ... y lifestyles Increasing the opportunities to play sevens, building on the increased popularity of the gam ... s no more than seven players in the playing area during play. A team may nominate up to fiv
Touch Rugby
e to use other surfaces provided they are suitable for purpose. 1.2 Dimensions of the field of pla ... s been carried out of the field of play. If time expires and a penalty kick is then awarded, the refere ... e in the field of play, the referee awards a ruck ball, ground touch or free pass to the team that las ... d for an infringement in in-goal, the mark for the penalty kick is in the field of play, five metres fro
10 Offside and onside in open play
Principle The game is played only by players who are onside. Offside and onside in open play 10.1 A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the bal ... s the offside line. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes: a. Playing the ball. ... d, if that player: a. Does not make an effort to retreat and interferes with play; or Sanction: The no
15 Ruck
d. Forming a ruck 15.1 A ruck can take place only in the field of play. 15.2 A ruck is formed whe ... d to it and not just alongside it. Sanction: Penalty. 15.14 Players may play the ball with their fee ... m the ball and must not play the ball in the ruck or as it emerges. Sanction: Penalty. 15.16 Player ... p;A player who is, or was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m), and wh
18 Touch, quick throw and lineout
Principle The field of play has side boundaries known as touchlines. When play reaches a touchlin ... n of lineout or scrum. d. By a player whose feet are both outside the field of play. Sanction: Optio ... t bouncing in the field of play or hitting an opponent or the referee). Where the ball reache ... r must not step into the field of play until the ball has been thrown. Sanction: Option of lineou
20 Penalty and free-kick
Principle Penalties and free-kicks are awarded to restart play after infringements. Location of a penalty or free-kick 20.1 The mark for a penalty or free-kick must be in the field of pla ... t occurred. Any infringement in in-goal or within five metres of a try line. In the field of play, fiv ... n of penalty or free-kick While the ball is in play excluding a late charge after a kic
8 Scoring
d blows it back into the field of play, the score stands. Conversion 8.7 When a try is scored, it give ... n opportunity may be declined (see law 5.8a). 8.8 The kicker: a. Takes the kick in the field of pla ... y is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from bein ... d goal by kicking a goal from a drop-kick in open play. 8.29 The team awarded a free-kick (includin
16 Maul
f the ground. Forming a maul 16.1 A maul can take place only in the field of play. 16.2 It consist ... l 16.16 A maul ends and play continues when: a. The ball or ball-carrier leaves the maul. b. The bal ... n: a. The ball becomes unplayable. Sanction: Scrum. b. The maul collapses (not as a result of foul pla ... W TRIAL 16.18 A player who is, or was part of the maul may not play an opponent who is nea
14 Tackle
d in the tackle must ensure a fair contest and allow the ball to be available for play immediately. Subsequent tackle laws only apply in the field of play. Requirements for a tackle 14.1 For a tackl ... e attempting to play the ball. Sanction: Penalty. e. Allow the tackled player to release or play the bal ... 6 Tacklers may play the ball from the direction of their own try line provided they have complie
Maul - June 2026
g/driving to gain or defend field position. This guideline reinforces those philosophies. Mau ... e lines – Maul A maul in open play Law 16.4: Each team has an offside line that runs paralle ... l, or remains ahead of the hindmost foot at the maul, is offside. Mauls in open play For mauls formed in open play, the philosophy that a maul is a contest for possession should drive match officia
9 Foul play
e an opponent above the relevant sanction line (see law 14.1) while either player is in open field pla ... Principle A player who commits foul play must either be cautioned or shown a yellow card or be sen ... t not intentionally obstruct an opponent or interfere with play. Sanction: Penalty. 9.3 A player mus ... y to play the ball, other than by competing for possession. Sanction: Penalty. 9.5 A ball-carrier mus
19 Scrum
d in the field of play or throw forward, apart from at a lineout. In the scrum zone at the poin ... Principle The purpose of a scrum is to restart play with a contest for possession after a mino ... h. The non-offending team. Offside in open play (scrum option). In the scrum zone at the point closes ... p; An unplayable maul after an opponent's kick in open play. In the scrum zone at the point nearest to plac
Clarification 4-2005
6 can return to the field of play before the temporary suspension period for player No. 3 end ... d of play at the end of the temporary suspension of player No. 3. Player No. 17 cannot return to the fiel ... r No. 6 leaves the field to allow a replacement front row player (No.17) to take the field. During the time of the temporary suspension, player No.7 leaves the field (blood, or injury). Can player No.
Clarification 6-2005
d members of the Rugby Committee Player No. 6 can return to the field of play at the end of the temporary suspension of player No. 3. Player No. 17 cannot return to the field of play until his/her temporar ... B indicates that player 6 may return to the field at the end of the temporary suspension of player 3, but does not clearly indicate when player 3 can return to the field. Can it be clarified whe
Clarification 1-2004
r is sent from the field of play. At the next scrum a suitably trained front row replacement take ... d does not return to the field of play with 15 minutes (actual time) of leaving the playing area, the replacement becomes permanent and the replaced player must not return to the field of play. If howeve ... n to the field of play at the time the next scrum is awarded after the sending off.
Clarification 1-2002
r leaves the field to have bleeding controlled and/or have an open wound covered, that player may be temporarily replaced. If the player who has been temporarily replaced does not return to the field-of-play within 15 minutes of leaving the playing area, the replacement becomes permanent and the replaced player must not return to the field of play. Ruling of the designated members of the Rugb
Clarification 10-2003
7. The Team A management had not advised anyone of the blood bin as they left the field of play at hal ... 1 and the player was given 15 minutes from that time in which to return to the field of play. Should Team A, # ... 3 Number of Players-The Team, and Law 3.10 (a) Temporary Replacement: As the teams return to the fiel ... e the referee of the injury as the team leaves the field at half time, then the 15 minutes allowe
Clarification 6-2015
d that if in the above scenario No. 18 does not return to the field of play and the side has to reduce to 14 players, which player leaves the field. a) Is it the original player that replaced No.18 for uncontested scrums, or b) Can the captain / coach elect any player to leave the field of pla ... o replaced No. 18 for uncontested scrums who leaves the field of play.