Law 18: Touch, Quick Throw and Lineout

A ball not held by a player that touches the touchline or anything beyond is in touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1a · applied

A ball-carrier with the ball who touches the touchline or the ground beyond takes it into touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1a · applied

If the ball has reached the plane of touch when caught, the catcher is not deemed to have taken it into touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1b · applied

Not yet over the line, so the player in touch takes it out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1b · applied

The ball is not in touch if it reaches the plane but is caught, knocked or kicked by a player in the playing area.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2a · applied

Knocked back before landing, it is not in touch, whether or not it reached the plane of touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2c · applied

A player in touch may kick or knock the ball without holding it, provided it has not reached the plane.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2d · applied

A player who jumps, catches the ball and lands in the playing area has not taken it into touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2b · applied

Knocked back before landing: not in touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2c · recall

The mark of touch is where that player stands; the opposition throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1b, 18.8a · recall

A player who carries the ball into touch must release it immediately so a quick throw may be taken. Sanction: penalty.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.3 · recall

The ball is thrown in between the mark of touch and the thrower's own try line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4a · recall

It must reach the five-metre line before it touches the ground or hits a player.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4c · recall

The throw is made by a player whose feet are both outside the field of play.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4d · recall

Disallowed if a lineout had formed, the ball was touched by someone else, or a different ball is used.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.5 · recall

A player must not prevent the ball from travelling five metres. Sanction: free-kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.6 · applied

The defending team may do so but is deemed to have taken the ball into the 22.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.7 · applied

The quick throw goes parallel to or towards the thrower's own try line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4b · applied

Same ball, no lineout formed, thrown from outside the field.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.3-5 · recall

A disallowed quick throw gives a lineout to the same team.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.5 · recall

The ball must not have been passed or played back into the half; it must go indirectly into touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions; Law 18.8a · recall

A 50:22 cannot be gained from a kick-off or drop-out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions · recall

The ball-carrier going into touch: the opposition throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a · applied

When the ball hits a player and goes directly into touch, the opposition throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a · applied

Where the ball reaches the touchline or on the half-way line, whichever is nearer the kicker's try line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8b · applied

From a penalty kicked into touch, the kicking team throws in where the ball reached touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c · applied

A legitimate penalty goal attempt going into touch: the non-kicking team throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c · applied

A ball kicked from the kicker's own half that goes indirectly into touch in the opponents' 22: the kicking team throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a · applied

Own half, a bounce, out in their 22: a 50:22.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a · recall

From a penalty, the kicking team throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c · recall

The defenders brought it back themselves, so the throw comes back too.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · applied

Gain in ground if the defence did not take the ball back into the 22, or a tackle, ruck or maul happened there, or an opponent touched it there.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · recall

From a free-kick awarded within the 22, the lineout is where the ball reaches touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · applied

Picking the ball up outside the 22 and kicking from within it counts as taking it back into the 22.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · applied

Following an incorrect throw, the opposition throws in where the original lineout took place.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f; 18.23b · applied

Following a knock or throw forward into touch, the lineout is where the ball reached touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f · applied

Following a disallowed quick throw, the lineout is where the formed lineout would have taken place.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f · recall

Kicked directly into touch from outside the 22: the lineout is level with the kick (no gain in ground).

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8e · applied

Taken back into the 22, no contest: no gain in ground.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · recall

Team B did not take the ball back into its 22, so it gains ground.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d · recall

A lineout is formed on the mark of touch, but not within five metres of a try line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.9 · recall

Each team forms a single line half a metre from the mark of touch on its side.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10 · recall

Lines form between the five-metre and 15-metre lines.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10 · recall

A minimum of two players from each team are required.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.11 · recall

Teams form the lineout within 30 seconds of a mark being made. Sanction: free-kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.12 · recall

The team throwing in determines the maximum number for each team.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.13 · recall

The thrower must not pretend to throw. Sanction: free-kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.24 · applied

Since 2026, a throw that is not straight goes unpunished unless the other team lifted a player to compete.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.23a · applied

Lineout players stand between the 5-metre and 15-metre lines.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10 · recall

If the lineout option is taken and the next throw is again not straight, the original thrower gets a scrum.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.23b · recall

The lineout commences once the ball leaves the hands of the thrower.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.26 · recall

Pre-gripping is allowed providing they do not grip below the shorts from behind or the thighs from the front.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.19 · recall

Players must not jump or be lifted before the ball leaves the thrower's hands. Sanction: free-kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.20 · applied

Players must not make any contact with an opponent before the ball is thrown in. Sanction: penalty.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.21 · applied

A jumper may catch or deflect with the outside arm only with both hands above the head.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.29b · recall

Until then the offside line is the mark of touch; afterwards it is a line through the ball.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.32 · recall

Non-participants stay at least 10 metres from the mark of touch on their side, or behind the try line if nearer.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.35 · recall

Players may bring down an opponent with the ball only if that player is not in the air. Sanction: penalty.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.29e · applied

The lineout ends when a maul's feet all move beyond the mark of touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.26, 18.32, 18.38 · recall

0.5 m, 2 m and 10 m.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10, 18.16, 18.35 · recall