Law 15: Ruck

The purpose of a ruck is to allow players to compete for the ball on the ground.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15, Principle · Wissen

A ruck can take place only in the field of play.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.1 · Wissen

A ruck forms when at least one player from each team are in contact, on their feet and over the ball on the ground.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.2 · Wissen

Heads and shoulders no lower than the hips. Sanction: free-kick.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.3 · Wissen

Low bodies at a ruck cost a free-kick.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.3 · Anwendung

Each team's offside line runs parallel to the try line through the hindmost point of any ruck participant.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.4 · Wissen

If the hindmost point is on or behind the try line, the offside line is the try line.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.4 · Anwendung

Both teams are represented, upright and bound: that is a ruck.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.2 · Anwendung

Ball down, a player over it, an opponent meets them.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.2 · Wissen

Ball, then the last body, then the line through it.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.4 · Wissen

An arriving player must be on their feet and join from behind their offside line.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.5 · Wissen

The bind must precede or be simultaneous with contact with any other part of the body.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.7 · Wissen

Players must join the ruck or retire behind their offside line immediately.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.8 · Wissen

Only a player who got hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stays on their feet may handle it.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.11 · Wissen

Possession may be won by rucking or by pushing the opposing team off the ball.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.10 · Wissen

Kicking, or trying to kick, the ball out of a ruck is a penalty.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.16e · Anwendung

Returning the ball into the ruck is sanctioned by a free-kick.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.16f · Anwendung

A player may join alongside but not in front of the hindmost player, and only from behind the offside line.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.5-6 · Anwendung

The bind must come before or with any other contact.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.5-7 · Wissen

Former ruck players may rejoin, but only from an onside position.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.9 · Wissen

When the ball has been clearly won and is available, the referee calls "use it".

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.17 · Wissen

If the ball is not played away within five seconds of "use it": scrum.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.17 · Anwendung

A player who is or was part of the ruck may not play an opponent near it (within 1 m) playing the ball away.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.18 · Anwendung

The ruck ends when the ball leaves it, the player playing it away lifts it, or it is on or over the try line.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.19 · Wissen

Reaching the try line is one of the ways it finishes.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.19 · Anwendung

If the ball will probably not emerge, the referee awards a scrum to the side last moving forward.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.20 · Anwendung

The ruck ends when the player playing the ball away has lifted it from the ground.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.19 · Anwendung

The call starts a five-second window.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.17 · Anwendung

Five seconds after the call, at most.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.17-19 · Wissen

A ruck that cannot produce the ball ends in a scrum.

Quelle: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 15.20 · Wissen