Rugby
Penalties, free-kicks and cards
How Rugby Union restarts after infringements, how penalties differ from free-kicks, and what yellow and red cards mean.
Penalty and free-kick basics
Penalties and free-kicks restart play after infringements. The mark is normally at the place set by Law 20 and cannot be closer than five metres to the try line. Once awarded, the opposing team must retreat 10 metres or to its try line if that is nearer.
Options and scoring differences
A team awarded a penalty may choose a scrum, and a penalty can be used for a kick at goal. A free-kick has tighter scoring limits: it cannot produce an immediate goal, and opponents may charge once the kicker starts the kicking movement. Both restarts must be taken without delay.
Yellow cards
A yellow card cautions a player and suspends that player for 10 minutes. If the same player later commits another yellow-card offence, the player is sent off. Play restarts with a penalty after the card decision.
Red cards and foul play
A red-carded player takes no further part in the match. Under the current elite-rugby 20-minute red-card replacement framework, some red-card cases may allow a replacement after 20 minutes, while intentional and highly dangerous actions do not. That elite provision is not a blanket rule for every competition.