# Law 18: Touch, Quick Throw and Lineout (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 18: Touch, Quick Throw and Lineout · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-18-touch-quick-throw-and-lineout/)

When the ball is in touch, quick throws, who throws in and where, forming and throwing into a lineout, and play during it.

## 18.181 Touch and Touch-in-goal

When the ball is in touch, the plane of touch, and catches and taps near the line.

### Test 1: Touch and touch-in-goal

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Not yet over the line, so the player in touch takes it out. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1b)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Knocked back before landing: not in touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.2c)
- The mark of touch is where that player stands; the opposition throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.1b, 18.8a)

## 18.182 Quick Throw

Releasing the ball, where and how a quick throw is taken, and when it is disallowed.

### Test 1: Quick throw

- 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)
- 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)
- It must reach the five-metre line before it touches the ground or hits a player. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4c)
- The throw is made by a player whose feet are both outside the field of play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4d)
- 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)
- A player must not prevent the ball from travelling five metres. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.6)
- 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)
- The quick throw goes parallel to or towards the thrower's own try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.4b)
- Same ball, no lineout formed, thrown from outside the field. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.3-5)
- A disallowed quick throw gives a lineout to the same team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.5)

## 18.183 Who Throws In: 50:22, Restarts and Penalties

The 50:22, the general rules for who throws in, kick-offs and penalties kicked to touch.

### Test 1: Who throws in

- 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)
- A 50:22 cannot be gained from a kick-off or drop-out. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Definitions)
- The ball-carrier going into touch: the opposition throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a)
- When the ball hits a player and goes directly into touch, the opposition throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a)
- 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)
- From a penalty kicked into touch, the kicking team throws in where the ball reached touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c)
- A legitimate penalty goal attempt going into touch: the non-kicking team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c)
- 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)
- Own half, a bounce, out in their 22: a 50:22. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8a)
- From a penalty, the kicking team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8c)

## 18.184 Gain in Ground and Lineout Options

Kicks to touch from inside and outside the 22, and lineouts after incorrect throws and knock forwards.

### Test 1: Gain in ground and lineout options

- The defenders brought it back themselves, so the throw comes back too. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d)
- 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)
- From a free-kick awarded within the 22, the lineout is where the ball reaches touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d)
- 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)
- Following an incorrect throw, the opposition throws in where the original lineout took place. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f; 18.23b)
- Following a knock or throw forward into touch, the lineout is where the ball reached touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f)
- Following a disallowed quick throw, the lineout is where the formed lineout would have taken place. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8f)
- 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)
- Taken back into the 22, no contest: no gain in ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d)
- Team B did not take the ball back into its 22, so it gains ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.8d)

## 18.185 Forming a Lineout and the Throw

Where and how a lineout forms, numbers, timing and a straight throw.

### Test 1: Forming a lineout and the throw

- 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)
- 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)
- Lines form between the five-metre and 15-metre lines. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10)
- A minimum of two players from each team are required. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.11)
- Teams form the lineout within 30 seconds of a mark being made. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.12)
- The team throwing in determines the maximum number for each team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.13)
- The thrower must not pretend to throw. Sanction: free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.24)
- 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)
- Lineout players stand between the 5-metre and 15-metre lines. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10)
- 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)

## 18.186 During a Lineout

Lifting, jumping and contact, offside at the lineout and how it ends.

### Test 1: During a lineout

- The lineout commences once the ball leaves the hands of the thrower. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.26)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 0.5 m, 2 m and 10 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 18.10, 18.16, 18.35)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 18 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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