Law 1: The Ground

Law 1 allows grass, sand, clay, snow or artificial turf; the turf must meet World Rugby Regulation 22.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.2 · recall

The surface of the playing enclosure must be safe; the permitted materials come next.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.1 · recall

The field of play lies between the try lines and the touchlines; those lines are not part of it.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions; Law 1.3 · recall

The playing area is the field of play plus the in-goals; the touchlines, touch-in-goal and dead-ball lines are outside it.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions; Law 1.3 · recall

The in-goal runs from the try line to the dead-ball line and includes the try line, but not the dead-ball line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions · recall

The dead-ball line is at the end of the playing area and is not part of it.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions · recall

Objections to the ground are made to the referee before the match starts.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.11 · recall

The referee tries to resolve the issue and will not start a match on a ground any part of which is unsafe.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.12 · applied

The playing area adds the two in-goals to the field of play; the enclosure adds the perimeter area to the playing area.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions · recall

Objections come before kick-off; the referee resolves them and does not start on an unsafe ground.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.11-12 · recall

The field of play may be 94 to 100 metres long.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · recall

The field of play may be 94 to 100 metres long.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · recall

The width may be 68 to 70 metres.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · recall

For international matches the variation needs World Rugby's approval; for domestic competitions, the relevant union's.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3b · recall

Where the field is shorter than 100 metres, the distance between the 10-metre and 22-metre lines is reduced accordingly.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3c · applied

On a narrower ground the two 15-metre lines move closer together.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3d · applied

The perimeter should be five metres wide where practicable, never under 3.5 m in the men's game or 3.0 m in the women's.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3e · recall

Each in-goal may be 6 to 22 metres long.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · applied

At most 22 m, 70 m and 100 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · recall

3.0 m, 3.5 m, 6 m and 68 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3 · recall

Each dash within a dash line is five metres long.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.5 · recall

Solid lines: dead-ball, touch-in-goal, try, 22-metre, half-way and touchlines. The 5, 10 and 15 m lines are dashed.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.4 · recall

There are dash lines 5 m and 15 m in from, and parallel to, each touchline.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.5 · recall

One line 0.5 m long crosses the centre of the half-way line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.6 · recall

From the post to the outer edge of its padding must not exceed 0.5 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.7 · recall

There are 14 flag posts with flags, each at least 1.2 metres high.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.8 · recall

Six flags stand in line with the 22-metre and half-way lines, two metres outside the touchlines, inside the enclosure.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.10 · recall

The top edge of the crossbar is 3 m above the ground; the posts are 5.6 m apart and at least 3.4 m high.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1, ground diagram · applied

5 m from the try line, then 22 m, then the 10-metre line 40 m out, then half-way at 50 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.4-5 · recall

3 m, 3.4 m and 5.6 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1, ground diagram · recall