The Basics



• Tag Rugby is a non-contact form of rugby where a "tackle" involves removing a "tag" which is attached to the shorts of the ball carrier. Each side has 5 "tags" to score a try.

• After  each "tag", the tagged player stops, places the  ball  on  the  ground  and  rolls  it backwards between their legs to a team-mate standing behind. This is called a ruck ball. The team-mate standing behind is called a scrum-half.

• A try is scored in the same way as in other forms of rugby i.e. by touching down the ball on the ground over the tryline while retaining control of the ball. 1 point is awarded for every male try and 2 points are awarded for every female try.

• If no try is scored after the fifth "tag", the opposition shall gain possession of the ball and they shall restart play with a tap kick.

• A match shall consist of 2 halves of 10 minutes.

• At the start of the game the referee tosses a coin and the winner of the toss decides whether to kick off or to choose an end.

• The law of advantage takes precedence over most other laws and its purpose is to make play more continuous with fewer stoppages for infringements.  

 

Players



• A team must have no more than 7 players on the field at any time.

• The  maximum number of players per squad for any given match is 10.

• The maximum number of male players on the field at anytime is 5 (i.e. there must be at least 2 female players on the field at any given time).

Scoring



• A try scored by a female player shall be worth 2 points and a try scored by a male player shall be worth 1 point.
• A player in possession may not dive or fall to ground in order to avoid being tagged, nor may they dive to score if there is a defender within tagging distance.
• A  player may not pass the ball to another player after crossing the tryline nor can they run back into the field of play to pass the ball to another player.
• When  a  try  is  scored  the  conceding team will restart with a tap kick  from  the halfway line.

Defence



• When a tag is removed, the defender must shout “tag”, hold it in the air where the tag was made, and hand the tag back to the player who was tagged. They can then assume a marker position (i.e. a position 1 yard directly in front of the player who has been tagged), or return to the defensive line.
• At a ruck ball all defenders (with the exception of the marker) must be at least 5 yards back from the ruck ball.
• The “marker” can stand 1 yard directly in front of the player rolling the ball. They may tag the scrum half if he/she picks and runs with the ball (provided they have handed the tag back to the tagged players).
• No defender can move up until the ball is touched by the dummy half. This means that the ball is not immediately in play when it is rolled through the attacking player’s legs – it is only in play when it is touched by their team mate. If the scrum half is not in position within 3 seconds of the ball being played at a ruck ball, a turnover will be awarded to the defending team.
• A defender must not deliberately obstruct a ball carrier or a member of the other team
  who does not have the ball.

Attacking



• A player may pass the ball to a team mate by throwing the ball to another player or handing  the  ball  to  another  player  without  throwing  it.  A pass must be lateral or backwards, but not forwards in which case a turnover will be awarded.
• A Try will not be awarded if the attacker in possession of the ball falls or dives over the tryline and in doing so prevents a tagging.
• If an attacker in possession of the ball is tagged in the in-goal area before he/she scores a try or within 5 meters of the tryline, he/she shall be asked to conduct a ruck ball 5 metres out from the tryline.
• If the scrum half is not in position within 3 seconds of the ball being played at a ruck ball, a turnover will be awarded to the defending team.
• A player in possession must not attempt to bump or fend off a defender in their attempts to remove a tag nor whilst chasing the ball.

Kicking



• Kicking is not permitted during play in tag rugby.

Knock-Ons/Penalties



• A turnover will be awarded to the non offending team in the case of a knock-on or penalty.  
• The non-offending team will then restart the game with a tap kick and may run with the ball.

• In the event of misconduct by a player, the referee shall, at his/her discretion, caution, sin-bin (for 5 minutes) or dismiss the player.

Rules​title. Double click to edit me.