# Law 7: Advantage (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 7: Advantage · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-7-advantage/)

What advantage is, when it is over, and when the referee must whistle at once instead.

## 7.71 Playing Advantage

Tactical and territorial advantage, clear and real, and how advantage ends.

### Test 1: Playing 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)
- 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)
- Ground gained towards the offenders' dead-ball line is the territorial kind. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1b)
- Advantage must be clear and real; a mere opportunity to gain an advantage is not sufficient. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.1d)
- 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)
- 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)
- The referee stops play and the non-offending captain chooses the most advantageous sanction. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2d)
- 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)
- 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)
- On a second infringement with no advantage to be gained, the non-offending captain chooses. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.2d)

## 7.72 Whistle at Once

The cases where advantage must not be applied and the referee blows immediately.

### Test 1: Whistle at once

- 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)
- The referee must blow immediately when the ball comes out of either end of the tunnel. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3b)
- Whistle immediately when a player in a scrum is lifted or forced upwards off the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3d)
- Advantage must not be applied when a quick throw, free-kick or penalty is taken incorrectly. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3e)
- 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)
- Advantage needs live play: once the ball is dead there is nothing to play on. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3f)
- 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)
- The scrum has turned through more than 90 degrees, so the referee must blow immediately. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3c)
- Only a wheel through more than 90 degrees means an immediate whistle. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3c)
- Feed, ball straight through, whistle: no time for advantage. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 7.3b)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 7 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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