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Cheat Sheet

Rugby Quick Reference

7 at-a-glance cards for the most common rugby situations. Expand any card for a step-by-step guide.

Scrum formation: 8 players per side bind over the ball

Set Piece

Scrum

A scrum is a way of restarting play after a knock-on, forward pass, or other minor infringement. 8 players from each team bind together and contest for the ball.

Law 19
Lineout: players line up perpendicular to the touchline

Set Piece

Lineout

A lineout restarts play after the ball goes into touch. Players line up perpendicular to the touchline, and the ball is thrown in between them.

Law 18
Tackle & Ruck: tackle the ball carrier, then contest through the gate

Contact

Tackle & Ruck

A tackle brings the ball carrier to the ground. A ruck forms when players from both teams bind over the ball on the ground. Understanding what to do here is critical to the game.

Law 14Law 15
Penalties: non-offending team chooses kick at goal, kick to touch, tap and go, or scrum

Restarts

Penalties

A penalty is awarded for serious infringements. The non-offending team has several options. Common penalties include offside, collapsing the scrum or maul, and illegal tackles.

Law 20
Scoring: try (5pts), conversion (2pts), penalty goal (3pts), drop goal (3pts)

Scoring

Scoring

Points can be scored in four ways: a try, a conversion, a penalty goal, or a drop goal. A penalty try is a special case, awarded when foul play stops a probable try.

Law 8
Offside: players must stay behind the offside line in all phases of play

Positioning

Offside

Offside prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage by being ahead of the ball. Understanding the offside line in open play and at set pieces is essential.

Law 10Law 15Law 16Law 18Law 19
Cards & Sanctions: yellow card (10 min sin-bin), red card (permanent dismissal)

Discipline

Cards & Sanctions

Referees can issue yellow or red cards for dangerous play, foul play, or misconduct. Yellow cards send a player to the sin bin; red cards end their participation entirely.

Law 9