Rugby union (fifteens) rules rules, for watching
Start with the rules you see all the time, then the ones that change results.
Settling an argument? Search all 15 rules
- What is rugby union, and how does the fifteen-a-side game work?
- What are the positions in rugby union, and when can a player be replaced?
- How long is a rugby union match?
- How do you score in rugby union?
- Who kicks off after a try in rugby union?
- Why can you not pass forward in rugby, and what is a knock-on?
- What is offside in rugby?
- What are the rules of the tackle in rugby?
- What are a ruck and a maul in rugby?
- What does the referee mean by "advantage" in rugby?
- How does a scrum work in rugby union?
- What happens when the ball goes into touch in rugby union?
- What can a team do with a penalty in rugby union?
- What do yellow and red cards mean in rugby union?
- What happens when the ball goes into the in-goal area but no try is scored?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| WR Law plus number | World Rugby, Laws of the Game: Rugby Union 2026 (file 2607en). Read for this set: Laws 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 18, 19, 20 and 21 in full; Laws 7, 10, 11, 13 to 16 as read for the sevens set |
| WR Sevens Law plus number | The same document, "Law variations: Sevens", used only in "where it differs" rows |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
Checked on 21 October 2026.
Not covered: Law 2 (the ball), Law 4 (clothing), Law 6 (match officials and the television match official), Law 17 (the mark), the Law Application Guidelines and the head contact process, the referee signals and the under-19, 10s and Game-On variations. Nor are competition rules such as bonus points, tie-breaks and the format of extra time.
Not covered: Law 2 (the ball), Law 4 (clothing), Law 6 (match officials and the television match official), Law 17 (the mark), the Law Application Guidelines and the head contact process, the referee signals and the under-19, 10s and Game-On variations. Nor are competition rules such as bonus points, tie-breaks and the format of extra time.