Touch usually brings an opposition throw, but the kick and the restart matter.

The ruleset used on this page

This page applies the World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, updated in July 2026, principally Law 18 and its Sevens variations. World Rugby says the July changes apply to new competitions or events starting after 1 July 2026; a league or tournament already under way must check its union's implementation date.

The scope is the World Rugby international baseline for rugby union sevens. A national union, age-grade competition or event may publish additional regulations, so its appointed rules take priority where they validly vary the baseline. This page does not cover rugby league, touch rugby or the separate Game On modified form.

Was the ball actually in touch?

Under Law 18.1, a loose ball is in touch when it touches the touchline, touch-in-goal line or anything beyond. A held ball is in touch when the ball, the ball-carrier or either of them touches the line or ground beyond it. The touchline itself is out.

The plane of touch alone does not always make a loose ball dead. A player standing in the playing area may catch, knock or kick a ball that has crossed the plane without the ball being in touch. A player may also jump and keep it in under the landing conditions in Law 18.2. If the outcome is touch-in-goal rather than ordinary touch, the in-goal restart law applies instead of a lineout.

The ordinary outcome and the important exceptions

Law 18.8 gives the decision table. The most common outcomes in sevens are:

• Carry or indirect kick into touch: the opposition throws where the player or ball reaches the touchline.
• Unintentional knock, pass or throw into touch: the opposition throws where the ball reaches touch. Intentionally knocking, placing, pushing or throwing the ball out is instead a penalty offence under Law 9.7(b).
• Penalty kicked into touch: the kicking team throws where the ball reaches touch, whether the kick went directly, bounced first or hit an opponent or the referee.
• Legitimate penalty-goal attempt that goes into touch: the non-kicking team throws, and the mark cannot be within five metres of the try line.
• Direct kick from open play or a free-kick outside the kicker's 22: the non-kicking team throws, with no gain in ground.

A direct kick from inside the team's own 22 gains ground only if that team did not take the ball back into the 22, or if the law's resetting event occurred there: an opposition touch, tackle, ruck or maul. Officials therefore decide more than who touched the ball last; they identify the kind of kick, its origin and what happened before it went out.

There is no 50:22 reward

The Sevens variation deletes the 50:22 row from Law 18.8. A player may kick from their own half, have the ball bounce before going into the opposition 22 and still not earn the throw in sevens. The opposition throws at the place where the ball reaches touch unless another provision, such as a penalty kick, controls the outcome.

This is a rules difference, not merely a tactical preference. A broadcast or spectator applying the 15-a-side 50:22 law to a sevens match will award possession to the wrong team.

“Where it went out” is not always the mark

If a player kicks directly into touch from outside their own 22 in open play or from a free-kick, Law 18.8(e) gives no gain in ground. The mark is where the ball crossed touch or a point in line with where it was kicked, whichever is nearer the kicker's own try line; the non-kicking team throws.

The same no-gain principle can apply when a team takes the ball back into its own 22 and then kicks directly out before an opponent touches it or a tackle, ruck or maul occurs. By contrast, a qualifying direct kick from inside the 22 has its mark where the ball reaches touch, although the non-kicking team still throws. A penalty kick follows its separate possession rule.

Sevens overrides the general direct-touch options

In the 15-a-side law, a kick-off or post-score restart going directly into touch gives the non-kicking team several choices, including a lineout or quick throw. The Sevens variation to Law 12.8 replaces that menu: the ball must not go directly into touch and the sanction is a free-kick. No lineout follows merely because that sevens restart crossed touch.

A 22-metre drop-out is different. The Sevens variations do not replace the general Law 12.13(d) choices for a drop-out going directly into touch, so the opposition may choose a retake, scrum, lineout or quick throw. If it chooses a lineout, Law 18.8(b) places the mark where the ball reached touch or on the 22-metre sanction line, whichever is nearer the kicker's try line.

A legal quick throw replaces the lineout

Before a lineout has formed, the team entitled to the lineout may use a quick throw. Law 18.4 requires the thrower to have both feet outside the field, throw between the mark of touch and their own try line, send the ball parallel to or towards their own try line, and make it reach the five-metre line before it touches the ground or a player.

The player who carried the ball into touch must release it immediately so this opportunity is not unfairly prevented; failing to do so is a penalty offence under Law 18.3. A quick throw taken inside the defending 22 when its mark was outside the 22 is allowed, but Law 18.7 treats the defending team as having taken the ball back into the 22.

Same ball, clean chain, no formed lineout

Law 18.5 disallows the quick throw if a lineout has already formed, a different ball is used, or anyone other than the eventual thrower or the player who carried the ball into touch has touched it after it went out. The result is the same team's ordinary lineout at the proper mark.

That differs from an incorrect quick throw—for example, one thrown towards the opposition try line or failing the prescribed location. The non-offending team receives the Law 18 option of a lineout or scrum, with the lineout entry in Law 18.8(f) placing the mark where the incorrect throw was taken. Law 7.3 requires the referee to stop immediately for an incorrectly taken quick throw; advantage is not played.

Old open-play offside does not survive the dead ball

World Rugby Clarification 3-2025 addresses defenders who were ahead of their kicker while the kick travelled towards touch. They must retreat and avoid interference while the ball is live. Once the ball is deemed in touch and dead, however, the clarification says there is no current law keeping them offside merely because a quick throw may follow.

The throwing team therefore decides whether a quick throw is sensible from the opponents' actual positions. It does not receive an uncontested quick throw simply because those opponents had been offside before the ball became dead.

Sevens replaces 30 seconds with 15

The Sevens variation to Law 18.12 requires the teams to form the lineout within 15 seconds of the assistant referee or touch judge indicating the mark of touch. The sanction for a responsible team's delay is a free-kick. The general form of Law 18 uses 30 seconds, so applying that number to sevens is incorrect.

The quick-throw window and the formation clock answer different questions. A quick throw remains possible only until a lineout forms; the existence of time on the 15-second clock does not preserve that option after formation.

How the two lines and support roles are placed

Under Laws 18.9–18.16, the mark is not within five metres of a try line. Each team makes one line between the five-metre and 15-metre lines, parallel to the mark of touch and half a metre from it on that team's side. This creates the one-metre gap shown in World Rugby's diagram, and the gap must remain until the throw.

• At least two players from each team are required to form the lineout.
• The throwing team sets the maximum number of lineout players for each side.
• The non-throwing side may use fewer, but—unless the throw is taken as soon as the lineout forms—may not use more.
• The non-throwing team must station a player in the five-metre channel at the prescribed two-metre distances.
• Each team may use no more than one receiver, between five and 15 metres and two metres from their lineout team-mates.

A two-player sevens lineout is common, not compulsory

World Rugby does not impose a special fixed two-against-two lineout in sevens. Two from each team is the minimum; the throwing team may set a higher maximum within the seven-player team. Small lineouts are common because they leave more players available in open space, but that is tactics rather than law.

Once formed, throwing-team players generally cannot leave merely to reduce their number. Non-throwing players may leave only to avoid having more players than the opposition. Participating players may change places before the throw.

Foot position, direction and five metres are separate tests

Law 18.22 requires the thrower to stand on the mark with both feet on or behind the touchline and not step into the playing area before releasing the ball. Law 18.23 then requires the ball to be thrown without delay, straight along the mark towards a lineout player, and to reach the five-metre line before hitting the ground.

A foot fault or a ball that does not travel five metres gives the non-offending team the option of a lineout or scrum. Pretending to throw, delaying once the lineout is formed, blocking the throw or preventing it travelling five metres brings a free-kick. These are not all interchangeable “bad throw” calls.

The current trial uses the defence's lift as the decisive fact

The current published Law 18.23(a), still labelled by World Rugby as a Global Law Trial, does not stop every not-straight throw. If the non-throwing team does not lift a team-mate to compete, play continues. If it does lift to compete, that team is offered a lineout or scrum.

If the non-throwing team chooses another lineout and its own subsequent throw is not straight, Law 18.23(b) awards a scrum to the team that originally threw. This trial wording should not be shortened to “crooked throws are allowed”: the defensive lift and the second-throw sequence change the ruling. World Rugby's July 2026 update says newer trials remain under review, so a competition whose implementation predates the applicable update should confirm its appointed law set.

Support is legal only after the ball is released

Potential lifters may pre-grip a team-mate, but Law 18.19 limits where they can grip: not below the shorts from behind or below the thighs from the front. No player may jump, be lifted or be supported before the ball leaves the thrower's hands. Early lifting is a free-kick; any contact with an opponent before the throw is a penalty.

After the throw, players may lift or support a team-mate and must lower that player safely as soon as either team wins the ball. The ordinary failure under Law 18.29(c) is a free-kick, while dangerous contact with an airborne opponent may also engage Law 9 foul play and a penalty or card. A player may bring down an opponent who has the ball only when that opponent is not in the air and no maul has formed.

Participants and non-participants have different lines

Until the throw has touched a player or the ground, a lineout player's offside line is the mark of touch. After that contact, it becomes a line through the ball. A jumper who crosses the mark but does not catch the ball must return immediately to their own side. When a ruck or maul forms at the mark, a participating player must join it or retire to that team's hindmost-foot offside line.

Non-participants begin at least 10 metres back from the mark on their side, or behind their try line if that is nearer. Once a team-mate throws, they may move forward and the opposition may respond. If the ball does not go beyond 15 metres, those players avoid sanction only by retiring immediately to the proper offside lines. Offside infringements under this part of Law 18 carry a penalty.

A peel is legal, but it has conditions

A lineout participant may leave to receive the ball if that player stays within 10 metres of the mark and keeps moving until the lineout is over; breaching those conditions is a free-kick under Law 18.29(d). A participant may also move beyond the 15-metre line after the throw, but must return immediately if the ball does not go beyond 15.

Otherwise, except for moving to an empty receiver position or moving to receive from a lineout player, no player may leave before the lineout ends. That offence is a penalty under Law 18.37. “The jumper caught it” does not by itself release everyone into open play.

Exactly when the lineout becomes open play

Law 18.38 ends the lineout when the ball or a ball-carrier leaves the lineout, enters the area between the touchline and five-metre line, or goes beyond 15 metres. It also ends when the ball becomes unplayable.

If a ruck or maul forms, the lineout does not end merely on formation. It ends when all the feet of all players in that ruck or maul have moved beyond the mark of touch. Until one of these events occurs, the lineout's participation and offside restrictions continue.

Read the outcome from the type of breach

• Free-kick: many formation and timing faults, an unmaintained gap, too many players, early lifting, a dummy throw, delay after formation, blocking the throw and certain illegal movements by participants.
• Lineout-or-scrum option: an incorrect quick throw, a thrower stepping into the field too early, a throw not reaching five metres, and—under the trial—the non-throwing team's remedy after it lifted against a not-straight throw.
• Penalty: withholding the ball in touch, intentional disposal into touch, pre-throw contact, lineout offside, dangerous interference and prohibited early departure.

Law 7 permits advantage only when it is clear and real. It expressly forbids advantage for an incorrectly taken quick throw, when the ball has been made dead or where continuing would be dangerous. A referee may also escalate repeated or cynical offending under Law 9.

A textbook 50:22 shape in sevens

Situation: Blue kicks from its own half. The ball bounces, crosses touch inside Red's 22 and no other exception applies.

World Rugby 2026 sevens ruling: Red throws where the ball crossed touch. The decisive fact is that the Sevens variation removes the 50:22 entry from Law 18.8; Blue does not keep the throw.

A penalty kick reaches touch

Situation: Blue kicks a penalty towards the corner. The ball bounces in the playing area and then crosses touch three metres from Red's try line.

World Rugby 2026 ruling: Blue keeps the throw, but the lineout mark is five metres from the try line because Law 18.9 does not permit a lineout closer. The decisive facts are that this was a penalty kick, not a free-kick, and the minimum five-metre lineout location applies.

The ball attendant touches the ball

Situation: Red is entitled to throw. After the ball goes into touch, a ball attendant catches it and hands it to a Red player, who immediately attempts a quick throw with that ball.

World Rugby 2026 ruling: disallow the quick throw and return for Red's lineout. Under Law 18.5, post-touch contact by anyone other than the thrower or the player who carried it out breaks the clean chain. This is a disallowed quick throw, so possession does not switch merely because Red tried it.

A throw is visibly not straight

Situation: Blue throws towards its own side. Red stays on the ground and does not lift a player to compete.

World Rugby 2026 trial ruling: play continues under Law 18.23(a). If Red had lifted a team-mate to compete, Red would instead receive the lineout-or-scrum option. The ball must still satisfy the five-metre requirement; the no-lift rule does not excuse every other throwing fault.

A back advances, but the throw stays short of 15 metres

Situation: after Blue throws, a Blue non-participant advances from the 10-metre offside line. Red's backs respond. The ball is caught inside the 15-metre line.

World Rugby 2026 ruling: the advancing players must immediately retire to their respective offside lines. Law 18.36 allows the initial movement after the throw and the opponent's response, but if the ball does not go beyond 15 metres, immediate retirement is what avoids a penalty.

How to decide a sevens touch restart

1. Classify the boundary: ordinary touch, touch-in-goal or still in play under the plane-of-touch rules.
2. Name the event: carry, indirect kick, direct kick, penalty, free-kick, restart, accidental handling or intentional disposal.
3. Choose the controlling provision: apply the Sevens variation to Law 12 first for a kick-off or restart, then use Law 18.8 for any awarded lineout; remove the 50:22 row for sevens.
4. Check the quick throw: same entitled team, same ball, clean touch chain, correct location and direction, five metres, and no formed lineout.
5. If a lineout forms: enforce the 15-second sevens limit, minimum numbers, gap, five-to-15-metre positions and support roles.
6. Judge the throw: separate foot position, five metres, delay and the current not-straight trial test.
7. Follow the contest: lifting safety, participant and backline offside, legal peeling, and the exact event that ends the lineout.
8. Apply the stated outcome: play-on, lineout-or-scrum option, free-kick or penalty; use advantage only where Law 7 permits it.

Claims that sound right but are not

• “Whoever touched it last loses the throw.” Penalty kicks, direct-kick gain in ground, restarts and deliberate disposal require different tests.
• “Sevens lineouts are always two against two.” Two per team is the minimum, not a fixed maximum.
• “A 50:22 earns the throw in every union format.” World Rugby's Sevens variation removes it.
• “Time remains, so a quick throw is still available.” Formation of the lineout ends the quick-throw option even before 15 seconds expires.
• “Every crooked throw is whistled.” The current trial plays on when the non-throwing side does not lift to compete.
• “The catch ends the lineout.” Law 18.38 requires one of its listed ending events.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• World Rugby — Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2026, July 2026 edition: Laws 7, 9, 12 and 18; Sevens Law variations
• World Rugby — current Law 18: Touch, quick throw and lineout
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 18.8 and 18.12: no 50:22 and 15-second formation
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 12.8: direct-touch restart sanction
• World Rugby — Clarification 3-2025, 28 July 2025: offside status when touch creates a quick-throw opportunity
• World Rugby — July 2026 law update: effective date and competition implementation note
• World Rugby — Law 7: Advantage, including situations in which advantage is prohibited
• World Rugby — Law 9.7: intentional disposal into touch and unfair play

Checked against World Rugby's July 2026 law book, current live Laws 7, 9, 12 and 18, the Sevens variations and Clarification 3-2025 on 27 August 2026. World Rugby still labels the relevant not-straight-throw wording as a Global Law Trial. Competitions already in progress on 1 July 2026, and any union or age-grade variation, must be checked against the event's appointed regulations.