Rugby Laws Explained

The ball can't be passed or knocked forward toward the opposition's try line.

What it says

A throw forward happens when the ball is passed toward the opponents' try line. A knock-on happens when the ball hits a player's hand or arm and goes forward, then touches the ground or another player before the original player catches it again. Either one stops play and results in a scrum to the non-offending team.

Why it exists

Rugby is built around backward and lateral passing, which is what forces teams to work the ball across the width of the field rather than simply hurling it forward. This law is what makes rugby, structurally, a different game from something like American football or basketball, since territory has to be earned by running or kicking, not thrown.

In practice

A ball that's fumbled and bounces backward isn't a knock-on, since it didn't go forward. A pass that drifts forward because of a player's own running line, rather than the pass itself going forward relative to the field, is usually fine too, since referees judge the ball's direction relative to the pitch, not the passer's body position. Most knock-ons are simple: a bad take at the breakdown, a dropped high ball, contact that pops the ball loose forward.

Common confusions

A knock-on only counts if the ball actually goes forward off the hand or arm. If it comes off a player's chest or leg and goes forward, that's not a knock-on under this law. An accidental knock-on that happens the instant a player is tackled, with no real advantage gained, is sometimes played on by the referee under advantage rather than stopped immediately.

Last checked against the official law book: 2026-08-24