Law 21: In-goal

Grounding: holding it and touching the ground with it, or pressing down with hands, arms or the front of the body from waist to neck.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.1 · recall

Picking up is not grounding; a player may pick up the ball and ground it elsewhere in in-goal.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.2 · recall

An attacking player grounding the ball in in-goal scores a try.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.3 · recall

A defending player grounding the ball in in-goal makes a touch down.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.6 · recall

The ball is dead; as the attackers took it into in-goal, play restarts with a try line drop-out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.4 · applied

Contact with the touchline at the moment of grounding puts the ball in touch in the field of play: lineout to the opposition.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.5 · applied

Only hands, arms or the chest side of the body count.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.1b · recall

Chest on the ball is enough.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.1b · applied

Pick up, carry, then press down nearer the posts.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.2-3 · recall

Defender's grounding: touch down.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.6 · recall

If a tackled player's momentum carries them into in-goal, they can score a try or make a touch down.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.7 · applied

A tackled player near the line may reach out and ground the ball provided it is done immediately.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.8 · recall

Reaching out must be immediate. Sanction: penalty.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.8 · applied

A player off the playing area can score by grounding a ball they are not holding.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.9 · applied

Defenders may knock the ball backwards or pull it from possession, but not kick it.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.10 · recall

Doubt about who first grounded the ball: a five-metre scrum in line with the place, attacking team throws in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.17 · applied

Same restart as any attacker held up in in-goal.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.16 · applied

Defenders must not kick or attempt to kick the ball as a tackled player reaches out. Sanction: penalty.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.10 · applied

Attackers took it in, so the restart is a try line drop-out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.16; 12.12a · recall

The attacking team throws in at the five-metre scrum.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.17 · recall

The defending team chooses a 22-metre drop-out or a scrum at the place of the kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.11 · applied

An unsuccessful kick at goal or dropped goal is the exception: the defence restarts with a 22-metre drop-out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.11 · applied

If any part of a defending player is in in-goal (and not in touch or over the dead-ball line), they are in in-goal.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.12 · applied

A player in in-goal catching a ball still in the field of play has taken the ball into in-goal.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.13 · applied

A player on or beyond the dead-ball line, or in touch-in-goal, catching a ball in in-goal makes it dead.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.14 · applied

Touching the post alone lets play continue, unless the ball is grounded against the post.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.15 · recall

If the ball or ball-carrier touches the corner flag post without being otherwise in touch-in-goal, play continues.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.15 · applied

Touching the corner post does not put the player in touch-in-goal; the grounding in in-goal stands.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.15 · applied

Team B picks the scrum option this time.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.11 · recall

Missed kicks at goal are the exception: always a 22-metre drop-out.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 21.11 · recall