Crossing is legal until it becomes obstruction.

The ruleset and effective date used here

This page applies the World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, July 2026 edition, including the standard sevens variations. World Rugby says the July changes became effective for new competitions and events starting after 1 July 2026; a league or competition already in progress must confirm its implementation date with the relevant union.

The scope is rugby union sevens governed by World Rugby's law structure. It is not a guide to rugby league, touch or tag rugby, and local age-grade or modified-game rules may differ. Competition regulations may add match-review or disciplinary procedures, but the published sevens variations leave Laws 9.1–9.6 unchanged.

“Obstruction” is not one single test

World Rugby groups six different situations under obstruction in Law 9:

1. Running for the ball (9.1): neither player may charge or push the other, except shoulder-to-shoulder.
2. Offside interference (9.2): an offside player must not intentionally obstruct an opponent or interfere with play.
3. Stopping a tackle (9.3): a player must not intentionally prevent an opponent from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier.
4. Denying play on the ball (9.4): a player must not intentionally prevent an opponent's opportunity to play the ball, except by competing for possession.
5. Using an offside team-mate (9.5): a ball-carrier must not intentionally run into an offside team-mate to obstruct the opposition.
6. Ball dead (9.6): a player must not obstruct or interfere with an opponent while the ball is dead.

Each carries a penalty. The facts must be matched to the correct clause; “someone got in the way” is not a complete ruling.

Accident and intention must be separated

Laws 9.2–9.5 use the word intentionally. A referee therefore needs more than the fact that two running lines met. A late change of line, looking toward the defender rather than the ball, bracing for a block, holding a position to create a shield, or the ball-carrier deliberately steering behind an offside team-mate may help establish intention. None is an automatic checklist result; under Law 6.5 the referee is the sole judge of fact and law during the match.

By contrast, Laws 9.1 and 9.6 do not state an intention requirement. A prohibited push while two opponents run for the ball can be penalised even if it was not a planned screen, and interference after the ball is dead should not be analysed as though Law 9.3's intentional-tackle test controlled it.

A decoy is an attacking option, not a licence to block

World Rugby does not outlaw a player merely for running a decoy line. The relevant Law 9.3 question is whether that player intentionally prevented an opponent from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier. Contact is useful evidence, but the law does not make contact a separate requirement.

• A runner who offers a credible passing option and clears the defender's route without preventing a tackle has not offended merely by drawing attention.
• A runner who changes line into a defender and stops an attempted tackle can be penalised under Law 9.3.
• A runner who stops in front of the ball-carrier to create a moving screen can also prevent the tackle without a heavy collision.

The law's wording is more exact than the loose broadcast phrase “material effect”: the official must identify intentional prevention of a tackle or attempted tackle.

The crossing itself is not the offence

“Crossing” usually describes attackers exchanging places or the ball-carrier moving behind a team-mate. That geometry is legal unless the sequence satisfies an offence. Two routes are especially important:

• Law 9.3: the team-mate intentionally prevents an opponent from tackling or attempting to tackle the ball-carrier.
• Law 9.5: the ball-carrier intentionally runs into an offside team-mate to obstruct the opposition.

The offside detail matters. Under Law 10.1, a player in front of a team-mate carrying the ball is offside in open play. If the carrier deliberately uses that player as a barrier, Law 9.5 applies. If the contact is unavoidable rather than intentional, Law 10.5's accidental-offside rule may instead produce a scrum only when the player's team gains an advantage; otherwise play continues.

Being offside and obstructing are different findings

An offside position is not, by itself, the complete obstruction offence. Law 9.2 addresses an offside player who intentionally obstructs or interferes. Law 10 separately says an offside player must not interfere with play, including by preventing the opposition from playing as it wishes, and sets out when that player may be penalised.

An offside player can avoid an obstruction offence by staying out of the opponent's route and complying with the applicable duty to retreat or become onside. An offside player who intentionally stands between a catcher and an onside chaser, moves across the chaser's route, or uses the illegal position to influence the contest cannot rely on the fact that no tackle occurred.

Competing for possession is the key exception

Law 9.4 prohibits intentionally denying an opponent the opportunity to play the ball, other than by competing for possession. A player may therefore take a genuine line to catch, gather or otherwise contest the ball. A player may not ignore the ball and take a line whose purpose is to remove the opponent's opportunity.

Law 9.1 supplies the narrower contact rule when a player and opponent are both running for the ball: charging or pushing is prohibited, with an exception for shoulder-to-shoulder contact. That exception belongs to a contest in which both are running for the ball. It is not a general right to body-check a kick chaser, support runner or opponent away from the ball.

Holding and charging may be a separate Law 9 offence

Not every illegal block is best described under Laws 9.1–9.6. World Rugby Law 9.15 says that, except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player not carrying the ball must not hold, push, charge or obstruct an opponent who is also not carrying the ball. Its sanction is a penalty, and the clause does not state that intention is required.

This matters on kick chases and support lines. A “protector” may run to compete for the ball from a lawful position, but cannot grab a chaser, step across solely to charge the chaser, or shepherd the chaser away from the contest. If the opponent is airborne, Law 9.17's separate safety rule also prohibits tackling, charging, pulling, pushing or grasping that opponent.

Late obstruction of the kicker has a special penalty choice

Law 9.25 specifically prohibits intentionally charging, obstructing or late-tackling an opponent who has just kicked the ball. Unlike an ordinary live-ball obstruction penalty, the non-offending team may choose the penalty at the place of infringement or at the law's alternative mark based on where the ball lands or is next played. Law 9.25 gives additional locations when the kick goes directly into touch, into in-goal or dead, or strikes a goal post or crossbar.

Do not confuse this with blocking a chaser farther downfield. The special choice belongs to the offence against the player who has just kicked; an illegal block between two non-ball-carriers is normally considered under the applicable obstruction, offside or Law 9.15 provision.

What restart follows

For ordinary obstruction while the ball is in play, World Rugby Law 20.1 places the penalty at the place of infringement, with the mark in the field of play and no closer than five metres from the try line. An infringement while the ball is dead is marked where play would have restarted, subject to Law 20.1's adjustments. Offside-at-a-phase and late-charge situations have their own locations.

The non-offending team may take the penalty quickly if it follows Law 20, kick for touch, attempt a penalty goal or choose a scrum. Under the sevens variation to Law 20.8 the kicker may punt or drop-kick but may not place-kick; a sevens penalty goal must be a drop-kick and must be taken within 30 seconds under the sevens variations to Laws 8.21 and 8.24. The option taken is the captain's tactical choice, not part of the obstruction decision itself.

The referee does not always stop play immediately

World Rugby Law 7 allows advantage after an infringement. It must be clear and real, tactical or territorial; a mere opportunity is insufficient. If the non-offending team breaks clear despite the attempted screen, the referee may call advantage over. If useful advantage is unlikely, play returns to the obstruction penalty.

Advantage does not erase foul play. Law 7.2 requires the appropriate foul-play sanction to be dealt with, and Law 7.3 requires an immediate whistle when continuing would be dangerous.

A penalty is normal; escalation answers a separate question

Laws 9.1–9.6 each specify a penalty. A caution or card may be added when the foul-play circumstances justify it, and repeated offending is managed under Laws 9.8–9.10. If a yellow card is shown in sevens, the sevens variation to Law 9.29 makes the suspension two minutes, rather than the general-law ten minutes.

A penalty try has a stricter test. Under World Rugby Law 8.3, it is awarded only if the opponent's foul play prevents a try that probably would have been scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. It is worth seven points, no conversion is taken, and the guilty player must be shown yellow or sent off. Obstruction near the try line does not automatically satisfy that probable-try test.

A switch pass with no blocked tackler

Situation: the first receiver passes inside and continues on the original line. A defender follows that runner; another defender remains free to tackle the new ball-carrier. The passer does not change line, stop or make contact to screen anyone.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: play on. Crossing routes and a defender's choice to follow a decoy do not themselves establish intentional prevention under Law 9.3. The decisive fact is that no player was intentionally prevented from tackling or attempting to tackle the carrier.

A decoy steps into the tackle line

Situation: after the pass, a decoy looks at the inside defender, steps laterally and braces. The action stops that defender's attempted tackle and the carrier runs through the created gap.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: penalty under Law 9.3. The decisive facts are the deliberate line change and the prevention of an attempted tackle. A large impact is not necessary. Advantage may be played if the defending team obtains a clear and real benefit despite the offence.

The carrier cannot avoid an offside team-mate

Situation: a carrier is spun out of a tackle and immediately collides with a team-mate in front. Neither player could avoid the contact, and the team gains no benefit.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: this is not Law 9.5 obstruction because the carrier did not intentionally run into the offside team-mate. Under Law 10.5, accidental offside stops play only if the offending team gains an advantage; on these facts, play continues. If it did gain an advantage, the restart would be a scrum, not the Law 9 obstruction penalty.

Two opponents race for a bouncing ball

Situation: both players run toward the ball. They make shoulder-to-shoulder contact while keeping their arms down. On the next stride, one extends an arm and shoves the other away.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: the initial shoulder-to-shoulder contest is allowed by Law 9.1; the push is not and produces a penalty. The decisive boundary is the limited shoulder-to-shoulder exception, not which player eventually gathers the ball.

A support player holds an onside chaser

Situation: after a kick, an onside chaser runs toward the ball. A retreating opponent who is not playing the ball grabs the chaser's shirt and slows the chase.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: penalty under Law 9.15 for holding an opponent when neither has the ball. This is not the special Law 9.25 late-kicker offence because the victim is the chaser, not the player who has just kicked.

A block removes the only probable try-saving tackle

Situation: five metres from the try line, a support runner deliberately takes out the only defender able to attempt a tackle. With that player removed, the carrier crosses untouched; without the block, the referee judges that a try probably would not have been scored.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: penalty try under Law 8.3, plus yellow or red for the offender. The score follows from the probable-try finding, not merely from field position or the fact that obstruction occurred. A yellow in sevens carries the two-minute Law 9.29 variation.

How to analyse an obstruction call

1. Name the ruleset. Confirm World Rugby July 2026 applies to the competition.
2. Check whether the ball is live. Dead-ball interference uses Law 9.6 and a different penalty location.
3. Identify the protected action. Is the opponent running for the ball, attempting a tackle, trying to play the ball, chasing, or simply away from the ball?
4. Select the exact clause. Use Law 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.15 or 9.25 as the facts require.
5. Apply the stated mental element. Do not invent an intention requirement where the clause has none, or ignore it where Laws 9.2–9.5 require it.
6. Separate position from offence. Check offside status and whether the player actually interfered or was deliberately used as a shield.
7. Choose the outcome. Play on, accidental-offside scrum, advantage, penalty, or—only on the probable-try test—penalty try and a card.

Five shortcuts that produce the wrong ruling

• “Every crossing move is obstruction.” The movement must satisfy a specific offence; crossing is only a description.
• “No contact means no penalty.” A player can intentionally prevent a tackle by occupying or changing into the route without a heavy collision.
• “Any contact means a penalty.” Intention is expressly required for Laws 9.2–9.5, and Law 9.4 preserves genuine competition for possession.
• “Shoulder-to-shoulder is always legal.” Law 9.1's exception is for two opponents running for the ball.
• “Obstruction near the line is automatically seven points.” Law 8.3 requires a try that probably would otherwise have been scored, or scored in a more advantageous position.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• World Rugby — Laws of the Game 2026, July 2026 edition: Laws 6–10 and 20; Sevens variations
• World Rugby — current Law 9: Foul play, especially 9.1–9.6, 9.15 and 9.25
• World Rugby — current Law 10: Offside and onside in open play, especially 10.1 and 10.5
• World Rugby — current Law 7: Advantage
• World Rugby — current Law 8.3: Penalty try
• World Rugby — current Law 20.1: Penalty and free-kick locations
• World Rugby — Sevens variations to Laws 8.21 and 8.24: 30-second drop-kick penalty goal
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 9.29: two-minute yellow-card suspension
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 20.8: punt or drop-kick, no place-kick
• World Rugby — July 2026 law update and implementation notice, effective for new competitions/events after 1 July 2026

Checked against World Rugby's July 2026 law book, current live law pages and sevens variations on 28 August 2026. Competitions already under way on 1 July were directed to confirm implementation with their union; local age-grade, modified-game, review and disciplinary regulations may supplement this baseline.