What is offside in rugby?
I · Intermediate · Open play · 2 of 5A player is offside in open play when in front of a team-mate who has the ball or last played it. Being there is not an offence. Interfering is: playing the ball, tackling, getting in the way or hanging about. After a team-mate's kick, an offside player must retire and may not go towards where the ball lands.
How it works
- The test: a player is offside "if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it".
- At a kick: "the foot kicking the ball determines the offside line".
- Anywhere: "A player can be offside anywhere in the playing area."
- Must not interfere: by playing the ball, tackling the ball-carrier, preventing the opposition from playing as they wish or loitering.
- Penalised when: the player does not try to retreat and interferes, or moves towards the ball.
- The 10-metre law: a player in front of a kicker must retire behind an onside team-mate or a line 10 metres from where the ball is caught or lands.
- Put onside by a team-mate: when the player retires behind the team-mate who last played the ball, or an onside team-mate runs past them.
- Put onside by an opponent: when an opponent kicks the ball, or intentionally touches it without gaining possession.
- Accidental offside: when a player cannot avoid being touched by the ball or the carrier. A scrum, and only if their team gains an advantage.
- The sanction: a penalty where the offence happened, or a scrum where the offending team last played the ball.
The glossary has the offside entry, the offside line, the 10-metre law, the kick, the penalty and the charge down.
Tricky cases
A player is ahead of the kicker when the ball is kicked and stands still. Is that an offence?
Not if they are more than 10 metres from where the ball comes down and do not interfere. Within 10 metres they must retire immediately.
The kicker runs past an offside team-mate. Can that team-mate now join in?
Yes, unless they were within the 10 metres. A player offside under the 10-metre law cannot be put onside that way.
The ball-carrier runs into the back of a team-mate standing in front. What is the decision?
Accidental offside if it could not be avoided: a scrum to the other team if the carrier's team gained an advantage. Doing it on purpose to block defenders is obstruction and a penalty.
Is there offside at a scrum or a ruck as well?
Yes, with their own offside lines. Those are on the ruck and scrum pages.
Why the rule exists
Offside is the other half of the no-forward-pass rule. If players could wait ahead of the ball, a kick would do the job of a forward pass. Keeping everyone behind the ball means ground has to be won by the player who has it.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Open play | In front of the ball-carrier or last player | WR Law 10.1 |
| After a kick | The 10-metre law | WR Law 10.4c |
| Tackle, ruck, maul | A line through the hindmost point or foot | WR Law 14.10; 15.4; 16.4 |
| Sevens | No variation | WR Sevens variations |
From the rule book
World Rugby, Laws of the Game: Rugby Union 2026, Law 10 and Law 9.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026 (PDF).