# Law 9: Foul Play (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 9: Foul Play · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-9-foul-play/)

Obstruction, unfair play, repeated infringements, dangerous play, misconduct, and yellow and red cards.

## 9.91 Obstruction and Unfair Play

Obstruction, unfair play, wasting time and repeated infringements.

### Test 1: Obstruction and unfair play

- When running for the ball, neither may charge or push the other except shoulder-to-shoulder. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.1)
- A player must not obstruct or interfere with an opponent while the ball is dead. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.6)
- Intentionally knocking, placing, pushing or throwing the ball out of the playing area is unfair play: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.7b)
- Wasting time is sanctioned by a free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.7d)
- Doing anything that may lead officials to think an opponent has infringed is unfair play: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.7c)
- The referee gives a general caution; if the offence is repeated, the guilty player(s) see a yellow card. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.10)
- An offside player must not intentionally obstruct an opponent or interfere with play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.2)
- A ball-carrier must not intentionally run into an offside team-mate to obstruct the opposition. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.5)
- General caution first, then a yellow card for the next offender. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.10)
- Scrum, free-kick, penalty, then a penalty with a card. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.7, 9.29)

## 9.92 Dangerous Tackles and Contact

Dangerous and high tackles, players in the air, tip tackles, hand-offs and lifting team-mates.

### Test 1: Dangerous tackles and contact

- Dangerous tackling includes any tackle or attempt that leads to head contact, or one above the sanction line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.13)
- Elite: shoulder line. Community: waist or base of the sternum, as the union decides. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.13; Law 14.1)
- A player must not tackle an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.14)
- A player must not charge or knock down a ball-carrier without attempting to grasp them. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.16)
- A player must not lift an opponent and drop or drive them so their head or upper body hits the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.18)
- A ball-carrier may hand off an opponent provided excessive force is not used. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.24)
- A player must not attempt to kick the ball from the hands of the ball-carrier. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.23)
- A player must not tackle, charge, pull, push or grasp an opponent whose feet are off the ground. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.17)
- Players who lift or support a team-mate in open play must lower them safely as soon as the ball is won. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.26)
- From the hips up: waist, then sternum, then shoulders. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 14.1)

## 9.93 Scrum, Ruck, Maul and the Kicker

Dangerous play at set pieces and the breakdown, and late charges on a kicker.

### Test 1: Scrum, ruck, maul and the kicker

- The front row must not form at a distance and rush against its opponents. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.19a)
- A front-row player must not pull an opponent, lift them or force them upwards, or intentionally collapse the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.19b-d)
- Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.20a)
- Push or drive them back, including by the knee or leg, but never roll, pull or twist. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.20d)
- A player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.20e)
- The non-offending team chooses the place of the infringement or where the ball lands (not within 15 m of touch). (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.25)
- If the ball went directly into touch, the option is on the 15-metre line in line with where it crossed. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.25c)
- Shoulder first with arms tucked is contact without a bind: a penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.20a)
- The non-offending team chooses among the places Law 9.25 lists. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.25)
- Joining by binding is legal; contact without binding is charging. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.20a)

## 9.94 Misconduct and Cards

Abuse, respect for the referee, yellow cards, red cards and replacement after a red card.

### Test 1: Misconduct and cards

- A cautioned player is suspended for 10 minutes and shown a yellow card. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.29)
- A second yellow-card offence means the player must be sent off; play restarts with a penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.29)
- A player sent off takes no further part and may not be replaced. The 20-minute rule is elite only. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.30)
- For intentional and highly dangerous actions, the player cannot be replaced; for other actions, after 20 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.30)
- Players must respect the referee's authority and not dispute decisions. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.28)
- Physical abuse includes biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area, striking, stamping, trampling, tripping or kicking. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.12)
- Players must stop playing immediately when the referee whistles to stop play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.28)
- Elite rugby lets the side return to 15 after 20 minutes in this case. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.30)
- Two yellows in one match equal a red. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.29)
- Elite only, and only when the act was not intentional and highly dangerous. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 9.30)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 9 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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