This section is for the moments where one phase changes everything: a possible knock-on before a try, advantage that keeps going, a high tackle under review, or confusion about grounding. Each page shows the order the referee and TMO work through so the final call feels earned, not random.
22 plain-English explainers, grouped by the kind of decision you need to settle.
Players, playing areas, equipment, positions, and the basic structure of the sport.
How points, goals, results, tied contests, and competition formats are decided.
Illegal contact, violations, cards, discipline, and how sanctions are applied.
Rugby union high tackle sanctions explained: contact point, danger, mitigation, and how officials choose penalty, yellow card, or red card.
Read explainerRugby union obstruction, blocking, and crossing explained: when support runners may hold their line, when a screen becomes illegal, and how referees judge.
Read explainerRugby union penalty kicks and free kicks explained: tap kicks, kicks to touch, penalty goals, free-kick limits, quick penalties, 10-metre retreat.
Read explainerRugby union sin bin and red card rules explained: yellow cards, temporary suspensions, two yellows, full red cards, 20-minute red-card trials.
Read explainerClocks, substitutions, restarts, replay systems, reviews, and official procedure.
Rugby union kick-offs and restarts explained: drop-kick requirements, 10-metre restarts, direct touch, in-goal outcomes, 22-metre drop-outs, try-line.
Read explainerRugby union match timing and stoppage time rules explained: 40-minute halves, referee timekeeping, time lost, when a half ends, penalties after time.
Read explainerRugby union substitutions, replacements, and HIA rules explained: tactical replacements, injury replacements, blood replacements, head injury assessment.
Read explainerRugby union touch, in-goal, and dead-ball rules explained: touchlines, touch-in-goal, legal grounding, held-up balls, dead-ball outcomes, drop-outs, scrums.
Read explainerThe live-play rulings, sequences, and judgment calls that decide what happens next.
Rugby union advantage explained step by step: when it starts, when it ends, and when play comes back for the original offence.
Read explainerRugby union grounding and try rules explained: downward pressure, in-goal, touch-in-goal, held-up balls, post protectors, and TMO try decisions.
Read explainerRugby union lineouts and knock-ons explained: when play restarts from touch, what counts as forward handling, and how officials judge the call.
Read explainerRugby union rucks and mauls explained: how each forms, what players may do, offside lines, turnovers, and why referees stop play.
Read explainerRugby union forward pass rules explained: what counts as a throw forward, how momentum affects the call, sanctions, advantage, exceptions.
Read explainerRugby union kicking rules explained: open-play kicks, kicks to touch, 50:22, the 22-metre rule, penalties, free-kicks, restarts, and offside chasers.
Read explainerRugby union mark rule explained: when a mark can be claimed, the 22-metre and in-goal requirements, direct catches, restart exceptions, free-kick outcomes.
Read explainerRugby union offside at rucks and mauls explained: where the offside line is, when players may join, when the ball is out, and why referees penalise early.
Read explainerRugby union ruck entry and jackal rules explained: how players may enter, when a jackal is legal, when hands are allowed.
Read explainerRugby union tackle release and not rolling away rules explained: when a tackle exists, what tacklers and tackled players must do, and how referees judge.
Read explainerRugby union scrums and resets explained: when scrums restart play, who throws in, why referees reset them.
Read explainerRugby union TMO checks explained: what can be reviewed, how far back the review can go, and who makes the final decision.
Read explainer