# Law 11: Knock Forward or Throw Forward (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 11: Knock Forward or Throw Forward · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-11-knock-forward-or-throw-forward/)

What a knock forward and a throw forward are, their sanctions, and the charge-down and rip exceptions.

## 11.111 Knock Forward

The definition, the sanction, going into touch, intentional knocks and tacklers.

### Test 1: Knock forward

- Possession lost forwards, or the ball hit forward by hand or arm, touching the ground or a player before the player can catch it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- A knock forward may occur anywhere in the playing area. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1)
- Sanction: scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1)
- If the ball goes into touch, the non-offending team may opt for a quick throw or lineout instead of the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1)
- A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.3)
- It is not intentional if the player was trying to catch the ball with a reasonable expectation of gaining it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.4)
- It is a knock forward when a player, tackling or attempting to tackle, contacts the ball and it goes forward. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.2)
- A knock forward: the ball went forward off the hands and hit the ground. Sanction: scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1)
- The ball must touch the ground or another player before the player can catch it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1)
- None, scrum, penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.1, 11.3, 11.5)

## 11.112 Charge Downs, Rips and Throw Forward

No-sanction cases, the throw forward and its sanctions.

### Test 1: Charge downs, rips and throw forward

- No sanction when a player knocks the ball forward immediately after an opponent has kicked it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.5a)
- No sanction if the ball goes forward from the original ball-carrier's hand or arm. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.5b)
- A throw forward is when a player throws or passes the ball forward, i.e. the arms of the passer move forward. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- Accidental throws forward lead to a scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.6)
- Passing forward on purpose is a penalty offence. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.7)
- The definitions note it was previously called a knock-on. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- The test is the movement of the passer's arms, not where the ball ends up. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- Blocking a kick is a charge down, so play goes on. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.5a)
- There is no sanction for a charge down. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.5a)
- Ripped forward from the carrier's grip: no knock forward. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 11.5b)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 11 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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