# Law 14: Tackle (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 14: Tackle · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-14-tackle/)

What a tackle is, the duties of tacklers, tackled players and arrivals, offside lines at a tackle, and how it ends.

## 14.141 What Makes a Tackle

Held and brought to ground, the sanction line, and who is in a tackle.

### Test 1: What makes a tackle

- A tackle needs the ball-carrier held and brought to ground by one or more opponents. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1)
- A tackle can take place anywhere in the playing area; the later tackle laws apply only in the field of play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14, Principle)
- Being held means the tackler continues holding the ball-carrier until the carrier is on the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.3)
- Tacklers must tackle below the sanction line; the ball-carrier must enter the tackle safely. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1)
- Elite: the shoulder line. Community: waist or base of the sternum, as the union decides. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1)
- Players who hold but stay up, arrivals and players already down are the 'others' in a tackle. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.4)
- Brought to ground means lying, sitting or with at least one knee on the ground or on a player who is down. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.2)
- One knee on the ground while held is enough for the ball-carrier to be brought to ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.2)
- Held and brought to ground: then the tackle has happened. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1-3)
- The community options sit below the elite shoulder line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1)

## 14.142 Duties in the Tackle

What tacklers, tackled players, arriving players and the player who wins the ball must do.

### Test 1: Duties in the tackle

- Tacklers must immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.5b)
- Tacklers must be on their feet before attempting to play the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.5d)
- Tacklers may play the ball from their own try line's direction if they complied and no ruck has formed. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.6)
- Release, pass or push it in any direction except forward; it may be placed in any direction. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.7a)
- Tackled players must not lie on, over or near the ball to prevent opponents winning it. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.7c)
- Others must arrive from the direction of their own try line and stay on their feet when playing the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.8c)
- They must play it immediately and must not go to ground at or near the tackle unless tackled. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.9)
- A tackled player may place the ball in any direction; only passing or pushing it forward is barred. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.7a)
- Release, move away or get up, regain the feet, then play from the direction of the own try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.5-6)
- Make the ball available immediately, then move away or get up. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.7)

## 14.143 Offside Lines and the End of a Tackle

When offside lines appear at a tackle, where they run, and when a tackle ends.

### Test 1: Offside lines and the end of a tackle

- Offside lines exist at a tackle once at least one player is on their feet over the ball on the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.10)
- Each line runs parallel to the try line through the hindmost point of any such player. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.10)
- If that point is on or behind the try line, the offside line is the try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.10)
- A tackle ends when a ruck forms, a player on their feet gains the ball and plays it, the ball leaves, or it is unplayable. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.11)
- A player on their feet gaining possession and moving away ends the tackle. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.11b)
- If there is doubt who did not conform, the referee orders a scrum to the team last moving forward. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.11d)
- The tackle ends when the ball leaves the tackle area. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.11c)
- Number 7 over the ball is what makes the lines. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.10)
- Over the ball creates offside lines; a ruck ends the tackle. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.10-11)
- Doubt about the offender means a scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.11d)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 14 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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