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75 results returned for sanction
13 Players on the ground in open play
p with the ball; or Sanction: Penalty. b. Play (but not kick) the ball; or Sanction: Penalty. c. Release the ball. Sanction: Penalty. 13.2 Once the ball is played or released, players on the ground must immediately either move away from the ball or get up. Sanction: Penalty. 13.3 A playe ... o are not on the ground to play or gain possession of the ball. Sanction: Penalty. b. Not play the bal
15 Ruck
s no lower than their hips. Sanction: Free-kick. Offside at a ruck 15.4 Each team has an offsid ... t be on their feet and join from behind their offside line. Sanction: Penalty. 15.6 A player may join alongside but not in front of the hindmost player. Sanction: Penalty. 15.7 A player mus ... t with any other part of the body. Sanction: Penalty. 15.8 Players must join the ruck or retir
9 Foul play
r may charge or push the other except shoulder-to-shoulder. Sanction: Penalty. 9.2 An offside player must not intentionally obstruct an opponent or interfere with play. Sanction: Penalty. 9. ... l-carrier. Sanction: Penalty. 9.4 A player must not intentionally prevent an opponent from having the opportunity to play the ball, other than by competing for possession. Sanction: Penalty. 9.
11 Knock forward or throw forward
Knock Forward 11.1 A knock forward may occur anywhere in the playing area. Sanction: Scru ... e an opponent, makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward. Sanction: Scrum (if the ball goe ... t not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm. Sanction: Penalty. 11. ... 5 There is no sanction, and play continues, if: a. A player knocks the ball forward immediately after an opponen
16 Maul
e transferred the ball. There can be no long-arm transfer to another player. Sanction: Penalty. 16. ... e position or retire behind their offside line immediately. Sanction: Penalty. 16.6 Players who leave a maul must immediately retire behind the offside line. These players may re-join the maul. Sanctio ... n. Sanction: Penalty. b. Bind on to the hindmost player in the maul. Sanction: Penalty. c. Hav
The maul - January/June 2016
l and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty kick Good practice: Liable to sanction:
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
t kicks are used to resume play. 12.1 All kick-offs and restart kicks are drop kicks. Sanction: The no ... y line. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick being retaken or a scrum. 12. ... d, their opponents restart play on or behind the centre of the half-way line. Sanction: The no ... d: a. Team-mates of the kicker must be behind the ball. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the optio
14 Tackle
e a responsibility to tackle below the relevant high tackle sanction line – shoulder line in elit ... e below the relevant sanction line – shoulder, base of the sternum or waist. Sanction: Penalty. b. Immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground. Sanction: Penalty. c. Immediately move away from the tackled player and from the ball or get up. Sanctio
19 Scrum
g made. Sanction: Free-kick. 19.5 When both teams have 15 players, eight players from each team bin ... h team complete the scrum. Sanction: Penalty. 19.6 When a team is reduced to fewer than 1 ... r. Sanction: Penalty. b. The hooker binds with both arms. This can be either over or under the arms of the props. Sanction: Penalty. c. The locks bind with the props immediately in front of the
Definitions
l as they wish is taking part in the game, and is liable to sanction. A loiterer must not benefit fro ... l offence meaning a player can take no part in the game without being liable to sanction. On fee ... S Sanction The method by which the game is restarted following an infringement or stoppag
2026-06 Community Tackle Height law wordings approved
g or attempting to tackle an opponent above the relevant sanction line (see 14.1) while either playe ... e sanction line – shoulder line in elite rugby, or waist/base of the sternum in community rugby. The bal ... e-On Variation) Additional clause in 14.5: 14.5 Tacklers must: a. Tackle below the relevant sanction line – shoulder, base of the sternum, waist Sanction: Penalty Current laws 14.5 a-e re-lettered to b-
18 Touch, quick throw and lineout
e the ball immediately so that a quick throw may be taken. Sanction: Penalty. 18.4 At a quick throw, the ball is thrown in: a. Between the mark of touch and the thrower’s own try line; and Sanction: Option of lineout or scrum. b. Parallel to or towards the thrower’s own try line; and Sanctio ... s the ground or hits a player; and Sanction: Option of lineout or scrum. d. By a player whose fee
7 Advantage
m is unlikely to gain an advantage. The referee stops the game and applies the sanction for the infringemen ... e they have gained an advantage. The referee stops the game and applies the sanction for the firs ... e sanction(s) for the offence(s); or d. The offending team commits a second or subsequen ... n-offending team to choose the most advantageous sanction. 7.3 Advantage must not be applie
Dangerous tackles - October 2026
s or dangerous. Players are advised to stop this technique, and for match officials to sanctio ... l is out of the game and must... not tackle or attempt to tackle an opponent. Sanction: Penalty Law 9.11: Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others. Sanction: Penalty. Law 9.13: A player must not tackle an opponent early, late, or dangerously. Sanction: Penalt
Offside at the ruck - May 2014
m half, that player does so without sanction. Footage courtesy of BBC Sport
10 Offside and onside in open play
y; or Sanction: The non-offending team can choose either: Penalty at the place of infringement; or Scrum where the offending team last played the ball. b. Moves towards the ball; or Sanctio ... k is charged down, or is touched in an attempted charge down. Sanction: The non-offending team ca ... e should play stop. Sanction: Scrum. 10.6 Any offside player can be put onside when that playe
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
r and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed. Law 8.21: Penalty Goal: The kick mus ... o, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded. Law 9.7d A player must not waste time. Sanction: Free Kick Law 18.12 Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick. Law 19.4 Scrum: Teams must be ready to for
2025-01 - Global Law Trials
l laws content . Timings Rationale: Shorter stoppages in play Conversio ... n - consequential change The kicker: a. Uses the ball that was in play unless it is defective. Sanctio ... e without delay Sanction: Free-kick. Cleaner play at set piece Rationale: Protect the ... g to play the ball away Sanction: Penalty (Current 15.18-19 renumbered) Mau
Beach Touch Rugby
d when scored by a team with more than the permitted number of players. Sanction: Free pass at the plac ... t not be kicked in open play. Sanction: Free pass 7.2 Should an event occur which is not covere ... e. Sanction: Free pass at the place of infringement 10.2 All players must respect the authorit ... e a comment to the referee. Sanction: Free pass at the place of infringement or where play would nex
Charging into the ruck - February 2010
t of the body of the player joining the ruck. Sanction: Penalty kick DANGEROUS PLA ... l without trying to grasp that player. Sanction: Penalty kick A player must not charge into a ruc
Beach Fives Rugby
r of players. Sanction: Free kick at the place where the game would restart 3.3 Players nominate ... t be in accordance with the Laws of the Game. Sanction: Free kick 7.2 The ball must not be kicked when in open play. Sanction: Free kick 7.3 Should an event occur which is not covered by these Laws, play restart ... l to the game. Sanction: Free kick at the place of infringement 10.2 All players must respec
8 Scoring
e the try was awarded, parallel to the touchlines. Sanction: Kick is disallowed. b. Places the bal ... r. Nothing else may be used to assist the kicker. Sanction: Kick is disallowed. GLOBAL LAW TRIAL ... l rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed. 8.9 The kicker’s tea ... g to mislead their opponents into charging too soon. Sanction: Kick is disallowed. 8.10 If the ball fall
20 Penalty and free-kick
t, the mark is anywhere on the drop-out’s sanction line (non-offending team decides). An ... y. Sanction: Scrum. 20.6 Any player from the non-offending team may take it, other than for a free-kic ... s it is defective. Sanction: Scrum. 20.8 The kicker may punt, drop-kick or place-kick (other tha ... n the placer at a place-kick, the kicker’s team must remain behind the ball until it has been kicked. Sanctio
Maul - June 2026
s to be in a position to drag or pull, they should remove themselves from the contest or will be liable to sanctio ... t from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier. Sanction: Penalty. At a lineout, lifter ... y in contact with that player until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty. This prohibit ... t either join a maul from an onside position or retire behind their offside line immediately. Sanctio
Beach Tag Rugby
y is disallowed when scored by a team with more than the permitted number of players. Sanction: Free pas ... y. Sanction: Free pass 7.2 Should an event occur which is not covered by these Laws, play restart ... s play, handing off a player and misconduct which is prejudicial to the game. Sanction: Free pas ... e. Sanction: Free pass at the place of infringement or where play would next commence 10.3 Sanction
Tag Rugby
e of the objection remains unaltered. Sanction: Penalty kick at the place where the game would restart (b) Matc ... d off a defender in any way. Sanction: Penalty kick Law 8: Advantage 8.1 The Law of advantage take ... s will decide upon what provisions are required if a player is sent off in a festival. Sanctio ... k being penalised. Any player that initiates contact should be penalised. Sanction: Penalty kick 10.
Touch Rugby
e of the objection remains unaltered. Sanction: Penalty kick at the place where the game would restart ( ... t which is prejudicial to the game. Sanction: Penalty kick at the place of infringement or where pla ... t at starts and restarts. Sanction: Penalty kick at the place of infringement or where play would nex ... n-offending team (e.g., if the non-offending team scores, then this is seen as a fair sanction). (
14 Tackle
t of the waist or to the base of the sternum line. They may also choose to sanction ball-carriers who dro ... g dangerous contact with a tackler Sanction: Penalty Double tackles – flexible options Two (or more) players may not simultaneously tackle a ball carrier in open play. Sanction: Penalty When two (or more players) make a simultaneous tackle, only the primary tackler must meet the relevant sanctio
Law changes summary - July 2022
r to reduce the frequency of water carriers coming onto the field, and to sanction poor behaviou ... w that have arisen from previous clarifications. The wordings will change on the digital laws conten
2026-06 Law Application Guideline - Players on the wrong side of the maul
s are asked to identify, manage and/or sanction. The guideline can be found here .
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
y on or behind the centre of the half-way line. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick bein ... s with a drop kick on or behind the centre of the half-way line. Sanction: Free-kick. 12.5 [Replacemen ... l. Sanction: Scrum. b. Opposition players must be on or behind the 10-metre line. Sanction: The kick is retaken. Replaced by: a. Team-mates of the kicker must be behind the ball. Sanction: Free-kic
2024-07 Law changes
t on 1 July 2024. From that date, they will be reflected in World Rugby's digital law content. &nbs ... m playing the ball as they wish is taking part in the game, and is liable to sanction. A loitere ... g the knee/leg), but must not roll, pull or twist an opponent. (Sanction: Penalty) New 9.20e A player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs. (Sanction: Penalt
21 In-goal
d it is done immediately. Sanction: Penalty. 21.9 If a player is off the playing area, they can mak ... n but must not kick or attempt to kick the ball. Sanction: Penalty. Ball kicked dead throug
Enforcement of current Law - May 2015
e will call "use it" Sanction all players who join in front of the ball carrier – Law 17.4(
2025-07 Global Law Trial - 20-minute red card replacement
At the World Rugby Council meeting on 21 May 2025, the Council voted to move the 20 minute red card replacement sanction into a Global Law trial for the elite game. The following sets out the law wordings which will make up the Global Law Trial and will go into the WR Law assets on 1 July 2025. Foul Play - Law 9 9.30: When a player is being sent off, the referee will sho
2026-11 Law change - Hip drop tackles
t; or tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the relevant sanction line while either playe
Decision-making framework for high tackles - May 2019
s?* * For mitigation, only one reduction in sanction can apply, irrespective of the numbe ... d to reduce a sanction by 1 level) Tackler makes a definite attempt to change height in an effor
4 Permitted clothing
y found to be wearing that item on the playing area, that player is sent off for misconduct. Sanctio
3 Team
y. The score at the time of the objection remains unaltered. Sanction: Penalty. 3. ... s the player did so to gain an advantage, the player is guilty of misconduct. Sanction: Penalty. 3. ... d to be removed as a sanction for causing uncontested scrums. 3.18 Only when no replacement front-ro
Head Contact Process - Leading elbow / forearm
1 No sanction - ball carrier’s arm is close to the body 2 Penalty - indirect throat contact with no force and no speed 3 Yellow card - indirect throat contact 4 Red card - direct throat contact with a high level of danger