Rugby
Rugby rules: teams, time, scoring and ball movement
A practical introduction to standard 15-a-side Rugby Union: team size, match duration, scoring, passing, tackles and restarts under the current World Rugby Laws.
Scope: standard 15-a-side Rugby Union
This guide follows the World Rugby Laws for standard Rugby Union. Each team has no more than 15 players in the playing area. Sevens uses separate law variations, while Rugby League is a different code and is not treated as the same game here.
Two halves and match time
A standard match lasts no longer than 80 minutes, split into two halves of no more than 40 minutes plus time lost. Non-international organisers may reduce the duration, and a knockout match may use extra time when the organiser authorises it.
How points are scored
A try is worth five points, a conversion two, a penalty try seven, and a penalty goal or dropped goal three. A try is scored by legally grounding the ball in the opponents’ in-goal.
Passing, tackles and restarts
An intentional forward pass is illegal. After a tackle, the tackled player must make the ball available so play can continue. Kick-offs and post-score restarts are drop kicks taken on or behind the centre of the half-way line under the restart laws.