Law 7: Advantage

If a team gains an advantage after an infringement by the opponents, the referee may let play go on to keep the game flowing.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7, Principle · recall

Tactical: the non-offending team can play the ball as it wishes. Territorial: play has moved towards the offenders' dead-ball line.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1a · recall

Ground gained towards the offenders' dead-ball line is the territorial kind.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1b · recall

Advantage must be clear and real; a mere opportunity to gain an advantage is not sufficient.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1d · recall

The referee stops the game and applies the sanction for the infringement advantage was being played for.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2b · applied

The referee stops the game and applies the sanction for the first infringement (foul play still gets its own sanction).

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2c · applied

The referee stops play and the non-offending captain chooses the most advantageous sanction.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2d · applied

After the knock-on, the referee lets team A play on and signals advantage; the scrum comes only if no advantage follows.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1-2 · applied

The referee lets the non-offending team play on until a clear and real advantage has been gained.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1-2a · recall

On a second infringement with no advantage to be gained, the non-offending captain chooses.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2d · recall

Advantage is not applied when the ball or ball-carrier touches the referee and either side gains.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3a · applied

The referee must blow immediately when the ball comes out of either end of the tunnel.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3b · applied

Whistle immediately when a player in a scrum is lifted or forced upwards off the ground.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3d · applied

Advantage must not be applied when a quick throw, free-kick or penalty is taken incorrectly.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3e · applied

Advantage is not applied when a player is suspected to be seriously injured, or when play would be dangerous.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3g-h · applied

Advantage needs live play: once the ball is dead there is nothing to play on.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3f · recall

The wheeled scrum, an incorrectly taken free-kick and a lifted player are all on the whistle-at-once list.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3 · applied

The scrum has turned through more than 90 degrees, so the referee must blow immediately.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3c · applied

Only a wheel through more than 90 degrees means an immediate whistle.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3c · recall

Feed, ball straight through, whistle: no time for advantage.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3b · recall