Rugby
Tackles, rucks and offside lines
How Rugby Union moves from a tackle into a ruck, what players must do immediately after contact, and how offside lines control where arriving players may join.
What makes a tackle
A tackle occurs when the ball-carrier is held and brought to ground. The tackler must immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier, move away or get up, and be on their feet before trying to play the ball.
The tackled player must make the ball available
The tackled player must immediately make the ball available by releasing, passing or pushing it in any direction except forward, then move away or get up. Other players who contest the ball must stay on their feet and arrive from the direction of their own try line.
When a ruck forms
A ruck forms when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball on the ground. Once a ruck has formed, players generally may not handle the ball; possession is contested by rucking or pushing the opposition off the ball.
Offside lines at the tackle and ruck
At a tackle, offside lines are created when at least one player is on their feet over the ball. At a ruck, each team’s line runs through the hindmost point of its ruck participants. Arriving players must join from behind their own offside line or retire behind it.