# Law 1: The Ground (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 1: The Ground · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-1-the-ground/)

The surfaces a ground may have, its areas and lines, the sizes allowed, the goal posts and flags, and objections before kick-off.

## 1.11 Surface, Areas and Safety

Permitted surfaces, the field of play, playing area, in-goal and enclosure, and objections to the ground.

### Test 1: Surface, areas and safety

- 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)
- The surface of the playing enclosure must be safe; the permitted materials come next. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.1)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- The dead-ball line is at the end of the playing area and is not part of it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- Objections to the ground are made to the referee before the match starts. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.11)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## 1.12 Dimensions

Length, width, in-goal depth, smaller grounds and the perimeter area.

### Test 1: Dimensions

- The field of play may be 94 to 100 metres long. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3)
- The width may be 68 to 70 metres. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3)
- 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)
- 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)
- On a narrower ground the two 15-metre lines move closer together. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3d)
- 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)
- Each in-goal may be 6 to 22 metres long. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3)
- At most 22 m, 70 m and 100 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3)
- 3.0 m, 3.5 m, 6 m and 68 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.3)

## 1.13 Lines, Posts and Flags

Solid and dash lines, the centre mark, the goal posts and the fourteen flag posts.

### Test 1: Lines, posts and flags

- Each dash within a dash line is five metres long. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.5)
- 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)
- There are dash lines 5 m and 15 m in from, and parallel to, each touchline. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.5)
- One line 0.5 m long crosses the centre of the half-way line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.6)
- From the post to the outer edge of its padding must not exceed 0.5 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.7)
- There are 14 flag posts with flags, each at least 1.2 metres high. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1.8)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 3 m, 3.4 m and 5.6 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 1, ground diagram)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 1 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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