# Law 20: Penalty and Free-kick (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 20: Penalty and Free-kick · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-20-penalty-and-free-kick/)

Where penalties and free-kicks are taken, the options, how they are kicked, and what the opposing team must do.

## 20.201 Where a Penalty or Free-kick Is Taken

The mark: in play, in the lineout, near the try line, offside and second offences.

### Test 1: Where a penalty or free-kick is taken

- The mark must be in the field of play, no closer than five metres from the try line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- While the ball is in play, the mark is at the place of infringement (a late charge has its own options). (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- Any lineout infringement: 15 metres from the touchline on the mark of touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- Infringements in in-goal or within five metres of the try line: five metres out, in line with the place. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- Any further infringement by the original offenders before the kick: the mark advances 10 metres. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- From where it is awarded or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark parallel to the touchlines. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.2)
- When a penalty or free-kick is taken at the wrong place, it must be retaken. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.2)
- Offside at a phase of play: the mark is at the offending team's offside line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- Subsequent infringements by the same team advance the mark 10 metres. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)
- 5 m, 10 m and 15 m. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.1)

## 20.202 Options and Taking the Kick

Scrum and lineout options, who kicks, the ball, kinds of kick and a visible distance.

### Test 1: Options and taking the kick

- A team awarded a penalty may instead choose a scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.3)
- A penalty at a lineout may instead be a lineout or a scrum at the same mark. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.4a)
- Any player of the non-offending team may take it, other than a free-kick awarded for a mark. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.6)
- The kicker must use the ball that was in play unless the referee decides it is defective. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.7)
- The kicker may punt, drop-kick or place-kick, other than place-kicking for touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.8)
- The kicker may kick the ball in any direction. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.9)
- Other than the placer at a place-kick, the kicker's team must remain behind the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.10)
- The ball must be kicked a visible distance and clearly leave the hands; then the kicker may play it again. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.11)
- A visible kick, then the kicker may play on. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.11)
- From a penalty kicked to touch, the kicking team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.8; 18.8c)

## 20.203 The Opposing Team

Retreating ten metres, quick taps, delaying the kick and charging a free-kick.

### Test 1: The opposing team

- The opposing team must immediately retreat 10 metres towards their own try line, or to it if closer. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.12)
- They are not sanctioned, but may not take part until 10 m back or until a team-mate 10 m back passes them. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.14)
- Delaying or obstructing, including throwing the ball away: a second penalty 10 metres in front of the mark. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.15)
- As soon as the kicker initiates movement to kick, they may charge and try to stop the free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.16)
- The kick is disallowed; play restarts with a scrum at the mark with the opposing team throwing in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.17)
- Opposing players must keep retreating the necessary distance and may not take part until they have. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.13)
- Charging is allowed at a free-kick; at a penalty, opponents retreat 10 metres and stand off. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.12, 20.16)
- Blocking the kicker costs another ten metres. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.15)
- A fair charge that stops the free-kick gives the chargers the scrum feed. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.16-17)
- They may take part once 10 metres back or passed by a team-mate who was 10 metres back. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 20.14)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 20 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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