How Rugby Union Actually Works for New Players

Rugby union follows one repeating pattern: carry, pass or kick towards the opposition’s try line; release the ball after a tackle; contest it while on your feet; then attack again. The essential beginner cue is run forwards, pass backwards, and stay behind the ball. This guide covers World Rugby’s laws current in September 2026, but youth, community and modified competitions can vary, particularly on tackle height and contact rules. The July 2026 changes apply from the start of a new competition or event, not necessarily midway through one already underway (World Rugby law update).

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The Basic Pattern Of Play

One team starts with or wins possession and tries to advance the ball into the opposition’s in-goal area. A player can run with the ball in any direction, pass it sideways or backwards, or kick it forwards.

When the ball carrier is tackled, that player must make the ball available. Players arriving from both teams can then compete for it, provided they approach legally and remain on their feet. The team that secures possession moves the ball away and begins another phase.

Play also restarts through scrums, lineouts, penalties and free-kicks. The referee may allow play to continue briefly after an infringement if the non-offending team has a useful advantage, so keep playing until the whistle sounds.

Scoring Rewards Grounding The Ball Or Kicking At Goal

The aim is to score more points than the opposition.

Score	Value
Try	5 points
Conversion	2 points
Penalty goal	3 points
Drop goal	3 points
Penalty try	7 points

A try is scored when an attacking player grounds the ball in the opposition’s in-goal area. Afterward, the scoring team attempts a conversion from a line through the place where the try was scored.

A penalty goal follows an eligible opposition infringement. A drop goal is scored from a drop-kick during open play. A penalty try is awarded when foul play prevents a probable try; no conversion is taken. For any successful goal, the ball must pass above the crossbar and between the posts (World Rugby Law 8).

Passes Must Travel Sideways Or Backwards

A player cannot intentionally throw or pass the ball forwards. The player can face or run forwards, but the ball must leave the hands sideways or towards that player’s own try line.

A knock-forward, often called a knock-on, generally occurs when a player loses the ball forwards from the hands or arms and it reaches the ground or another player before the original player regains it. An accidental forward pass or knock-forward usually results in an opposition scrum. An intentional knock-forward is a penalty offence (World Rugby Law 11).

The practical support line is slightly behind the ball carrier. From there, you can receive a legal pass without having to stop or reach back for the ball.

A Forward Kick Is Legal, But Chasers Must Be Onside

Kicking the ball forwards is allowed. The restrictions apply mainly to teammates in front of the player who carried or last played it.

An offside player must not advance towards the ball, play it or interfere with an opponent. After a kick, that player must wait for a lawful action to put them onside. A player within 10 metres of where the ball lands or is caught must immediately retreat outside that area while play continues (World Rugby Law 10).

For a beginner, the reliable habit is to begin behind the kicker. If you are already in front, retreat rather than joining the chase.

The Tackler And Ball Carrier Must Release

A tackle occurs when an opponent holds the ball carrier and brings that player to ground. A ball carrier with one knee on the ground counts as having been brought to ground.

The tackler must release the player and ball, move away or get up, and regain their feet before trying to play the ball. The tackled player must immediately pass, release, push or place the ball, then move away or get up. Arriving players must stay on their feet and approach from the direction of their own try line (World Rugby Law 14).

For a new ball carrier, remember ground, present, release, move. Place the ball towards your supporting teammates rather than holding it underneath your body. Learn the contact itself through a controlled tackle technique progression with a qualified coach.

Tackle Height Depends On The Competition

Since July 2026, the law identifies the shoulder line as the elite high-tackle sanction line. For open-field tackles in community rugby, organisers choose either the waist or the base of the sternum. Age-grade variations and restrictions on double tackles can also depend on the union or organiser (World Rugby’s community tackle-height wording).

Do not assume the standard shown in an elite match applies to your competition. Confirm the local rule before contact training; the tackle-height guide explains how the standards differ.

A Ruck Forms Over The Ball On The Ground

A ruck forms when at least one player from each team is on their feet, in contact and over the ball on the ground. Each team’s offside line runs through the hindmost point of its last player in the ruck.

A player joining a ruck must:

• enter from behind their own offside line;
• remain on their feet;
• bind onto a teammate or opponent rather than stand beside the ruck;
• keep the head and shoulders no lower than the hips;
• drive through the contact area rather than dive over it.

Once the ruck has formed, players generally cannot pick up the ball from inside it. A player who had hands legally on the ball before formation may continue only while remaining on their feet; the ruck-handling exception covers that sequence. Players on the ground must move away and cannot play the ball.

When the referee calls “use it” after the ball is clearly won and available, it must be played away within five seconds (World Rugby Law 15).

In training, first rehearse the route without opposition: start behind the ball, enter square through the gate, bind, keep a stable spine and drive with short steps. Add resistance under a qualified coach. The rucking fundamentals guide develops that progression.

Scrums Restart Play After Minor Infringements

A scrum commonly follows an accidental knock-forward or forward pass. With 15 players, eight forwards from each team bind in three rows. The referee manages the crouch, bind, set engagement, the scrum-half feeds the ball and the teams contest possession by hooking and pushing (World Rugby Law 19).

Scrummaging is a coached contact skill, not a formation to improvise. Front-row players must be suitably trained and experienced. A beginner should learn their location and responsibility in the scrum formation, then practise only under an appropriately qualified coach.

Lineouts Restart Play From Touch

The ball is in touch when it or the ball carrier crosses a sideline. Play then normally restarts with a lineout: players from both teams form two lines, and the ball is thrown down the gap between them.

In the common open-play case, the team that did not put the ball into touch throws in. Important exceptions include a penalty kicked to touch, when the kicking team normally retains the throw, and a valid 50:22.

At least two players from each team are required to form a lineout, and the competing lines must remain separated until the throw (World Rugby Law 18). The lineout guide explains the basic roles and safe lifting sequence.

Penalties Offer Several Restart Options

A penalty can follow offences such as offside, failing to release after a tackle, illegal entry at a ruck or dangerous play. The receiving team may tap and run, kick for territory, choose a scrum or attempt a three-point penalty goal. If the penalty kick reaches touch, the kicking team normally receives the lineout throw.

A free-kick is a lesser sanction. The receiving team may tap, kick or choose a scrum, but cannot score a goal directly from it. Opponents normally retreat 10 metres for either restart (World Rugby Law 20).

The referee can allow advantage rather than stopping play immediately. Do not stop merely because you saw an infringement. Continue until the referee whistles or clearly indicates that advantage is over.

Six Match Cues Cover The Most Common Decisions

1. Run forwards; pass sideways or backwards.
2. Stay behind the teammate who last played the ball.
3. After a tackle, release the player and ball.
4. Compete for possession only while on your feet.
5. Join the contact area from your own side.
6. Play to the whistle and follow the referee’s instructions.

Tackling, rucking, lineout lifting and scrummaging should be taught through age-appropriate, coach-led progressions. Competition-specific tackle heights and other modified rules must be confirmed before players begin contact work.