A penalty offers a shot at goal or an attacking throw; a free-kick does not.

The ruleset used on this page

This page applies the World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, July 2026 revision, principally Laws 20, 18 and 8 together with their sevens variations. World Rugby says the July law changes are effective for new competitions or events starting after 1 July 2026; a league or competition already in progress must confirm its implementation date with its union.

The sevens variation to Law 20 changes only the permitted method of kick: no place-kick. The remaining Law 20 mechanics apply unless an authorised union, age-grade, Game On or competition regulation says otherwise. This page does not treat a domestic modified form as the international sevens baseline.

The underlying law decides the award

A penalty and a free-kick are not two levels that the referee selects by feel. The law governing the infringement states the sanction. Offside, foul play and many tackle or breakdown offences carry a penalty; technical formation, delay and other specified offences may carry a free-kick. A card may accompany serious or repeated offending, but that disciplinary decision is separate from the restart.

World Rugby Law 7 may let play continue when the non-offending team has a clear and real tactical or territorial advantage. If that advantage does not materialise, the referee returns to the applicable penalty or free-kick. Advantage cannot rescue an incorrectly taken quick penalty or free-kick: Law 7.3(e) requires an immediate whistle.

Five questions settle most cases

1. What was awarded? Penalty or free-kick determines the available options.
2. Where is the mark? Take the kick there or legally behind it, not merely near the offence.
3. Was the ball properly kicked? It must move a visible distance and, when held, clearly leave the hands.
4. Are team-mates and opponents legal? The kicker's team stays behind the ball; opponents retreat 10 metres and do not interfere.
5. What option was used? Apply the separate rules for a tap, touch, goal attempt, scrum choice or free-kick charge.

The restart has an exact location

Law 20.1 requires the mark to be in the field of play and at least five metres from a try line. Its exact position depends on the offence: an offence in play is ordinarily marked at the place of infringement; an offence at a lineout is marked 15 metres from touch on the mark of touch; an offside offence at a phase is marked at the offending team's offside line. The law has separate options for late charges after a kick and offences outside the playing area.

Under Law 20.2, the kicker may take the award at the mark or anywhere behind it on a line through the mark parallel to the touchlines. A kick from the wrong place is retaken. “Behind” does not mean a few metres sideways, so a fast tap can be called back even when no defender was disadvantaged.

Touching the ball with a foot is not enough

Law 20.11 says the ball must be kicked a visible distance. If held, it must clearly leave the hands; if on the ground, it must clearly leave the mark. Once that legal kick is complete, the kicker may play the ball again. This is why a player can tap and immediately run, but cannot simply brush a stationary ball with a boot and pick it up.

The kicker must use the ball that was in play unless the referee decides it is defective, and must take the award without delay. Team-mates must remain behind the ball until it is kicked. The stated sanction for those taking offences is a scrum; an incorrectly located kick is retaken.

Punt or drop-kick, never place-kick

General Law 20.8 permits a punt, drop-kick or, other than for touch, a place-kick. The sevens variation replaces that clause: the kicker may punt or drop-kick but may not place-kick. A tap is a short legal kick, not a separate exception to this rule.

The scoring variation is consistent with that restriction. A sevens penalty goal remains worth three points, but Law 8.24 as varied requires it to be a drop-kick. A kicking tee or a player holding a placed ball is therefore not available for a sevens penalty goal.

Four routes are normally open

• Tap and play: kick the ball visibly from the proper location and attack immediately.
• Kick for touch: a tactical penalty kick reaching touch normally gives the kicking team the throw where the ball reaches the touchline.
• Kick at goal: attempt a three-point penalty goal by drop-kick under the sevens scoring variation.
• Choose a scrum: Law 20.3 allows the awarded team to choose a scrum instead of taking the penalty.

There is an additional set-piece option when the penalty was awarded at a lineout: Law 20.4(a) permits another lineout or a scrum at the same mark.

Possession without the penalty rewards

A free-kick can be tapped or kicked in any direction, subject to the same mark, visible-kick and team-mate requirements. If it was awarded at a lineout, Law 20.4(b) allows the team to choose another lineout at the same mark.

There is no general scrum option from a free-kick. World Rugby removed it from Law 20.3 with effect from 1 July 2024 to speed technical restarts. A free-kick also cannot produce a direct score, and a kick to touch follows the ordinary free-kick touch rules rather than the penalty exception.

Defenders must retreat before taking part

Under Laws 20.12–15, opponents immediately retreat 10 metres towards their own try line, or to that try line if it is closer. They may not delay the kick, obstruct the kicker or intentionally move the ball out of reach. The obligation continues even when the attacking team takes a quick tap and begins playing.

A nearby defender who had no opportunity to retreat is not penalised merely for still being within 10 metres. That player nevertheless cannot take part until retreating 10 metres from the mark, or until a team-mate who was 10 metres away moves in front of them. Standing still, intercepting a pass or tackling the runner before becoming eligible is not permitted.

The kicking team normally keeps the throw

Law 18.8(c) gives a strong exception for a tactical penalty kick: whether the ball goes directly into touch, bounces first, or reaches touch after hitting an opponent or the referee, the lineout is where it reaches the touchline and the kicking team throws in.

There is a crucial exception to the exception. If the player legitimately attempts a penalty goal and the miss goes into touch, the non-kicking team throws in; the mark is where the ball reaches touch, no closer than five metres from the try line. A missed shot is not converted retrospectively into an attacking touch-finder.

Territory and possession are separate

From a free-kick awarded inside the team's own 22, a direct kick to touch gains ground and the non-kicking team throws where the ball reaches touch. From outside the 22, a direct kick has no gain in ground: the mark is where the ball reaches touch or in line with where it was kicked, whichever is nearer the kicker's try line, and the non-kicking team throws.

If the free-kick bounces in the field before reaching touch, the ordinary indirect-touch outcome applies: the mark is where it reaches touch and the opposition throws. The sevens variation to Law 18 removes the 50:22 reward, so that open-play exception should not be imported into a sevens free-kick analysis.

Three points, a drop-kick and 30 seconds

World Rugby Laws 8.18–24 control the attempt. The team must indicate an intention to kick at goal without delay; after indicating, it must kick at goal. In sevens the attempt is a drop-kick and must be taken within 30 seconds of the indication. If that 30-second limit expires, the kick is disallowed and the opposition receives a scrum.

There is a narrow but explicit quick-kick rule: Law 8.23 says that if the kicker did not indicate an intention but takes a drop-kick from the penalty and it goes over, the goal still stands. Once an intention has been declared, opponents must stand still with hands by their sides from the start of the approach until the ball is kicked.

If defenders infringe during the attempt, a successful goal stands without another penalty. If the kick misses, Law 8.27 awards the kicking team a penalty 10 metres in front of the original mark.

When a dropped goal becomes available again

A free-kick itself cannot score a penalty goal. Law 8.29 also prevents the awarded team—including a team that chooses a lineout from the free-kick—from immediately manufacturing a dropped goal. Any such attempt is deemed unsuccessful and play continues.

The restriction ends only when the ball next becomes dead, or an opponent plays or touches the ball, or an opponent tackles the ball-carrier. Passes and elapsed playing time alone are not listed events.

Only the free-kick can be charged

Law 20.16 allows the opposing team to charge as soon as the kicker initiates movement to kick a free-kick. Eligible defenders may try to tackle the kicker or block the kick. If a fair charge prevents the kick being taken, Law 20.17 disallows it and awards a scrum at the mark, with the charging team throwing in.

This permission does not erase the 10-metre duties. A player still retreating or otherwise ineligible under Laws 20.12–14 cannot use the charge clause to participate early, and no opponent may delay or obstruct before the kicking movement starts. Penalties are not chargeable under this provision.

The catcher normally has to take it

Most penalties and free-kicks may be taken by any player from the awarded team. A free-kick following a correctly claimed mark is different: Law 17.5 requires the player who claimed the mark to take it.

If that player is unable to take the free-kick within one minute, Law 17.6 permits a team-mate to take it. The location still follows the special mark table in Law 17 and the taking requirements in Law 20.

A direct penalty touch-finder can extend the half

Under Law 5.7, a half does not end merely because time expires while the referee is awarding a penalty or free-kick. The award must be completed. The law then gives a specific further extension when a penalty is kicked for touch and goes dead without first being tapped and without touching another player: the lineout is played.

That exception is precise. If the penalty is tapped before the later kick, or the ball touches another player before going out, the special lineout extension does not apply. Nor does Law 5.7(c) extend the half for a free-kick kicked into touch. The distinction is often decisive on a final play.

A defender tackles from three metres away

Situation: after a penalty, the attack taps immediately. A defender caught three metres from the mark never retreats and tackles the runner.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: the defender was not penalised simply for lacking time to retreat, but Law 20.14 prohibited participation. The referee awards a second penalty 10 metres in front of the original mark and makes that new mark before it can be taken.

A penalty shot misses into touch

Situation: the team declares a penalty-goal attempt. The sevens drop-kick misses the posts and crosses the touchline.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: the non-kicking team throws in under Law 18.8(c). The decisive fact is that this was a legitimate goal attempt, not a tactical penalty kick to touch.

A free-kick goes directly out from halfway

Situation: a player punts a free-kick directly into touch from outside their own 22.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: no gain in ground and the non-kicking team throws in. Under Law 18.8(e), the mark is at touch where the ball was kicked or where it crossed, whichever is nearer the kicker's try line.

Several passes follow a free-kick

Situation: the team taps a free-kick, completes several passes without an opponent playing or touching the ball or tackling the carrier, then attempts a drop-kick at goal.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: no score. Law 8.29 has not yet been satisfied; passes alone do not restore the dropped-goal option.

A penalty is kicked out after time expires

Situation: the referee awards a penalty before the half ends. After time expires, the team punts directly for touch and no player touches the ball.

World Rugby July 2026 ruling: play continues with the lineout under Law 5.7(c). If the team had tapped first and then kicked out, the ball becoming dead would instead end the half.

Claims that miss the controlling detail

• “Any nearby quick tap is legal.” It must be at the mark or on the permitted line behind it.
• “The ball only has to touch the boot.” It must be kicked a visible distance and clearly leave the hands if held.
• “A defender who had no time to retreat may tackle.” No sanction for position does not mean permission to participate.
• “Every penalty into touch gives the kicking team the throw.” Not when a legitimate penalty-goal attempt misses into touch.
• “A free-kick can be changed to a scrum.” The general option was removed in 2024; only the law's specific alternatives remain.
• “Sevens has no penalty goals.” It does, worth three points, but the kick must be a drop-kick.
• “The hooter ends the half immediately.” Law 5.7 requires specified awards to be completed and can preserve a penalty lineout.

Check authorised local modifications

World Rugby's standard sevens variations are the baseline here. A union may authorise age-grade or community modifications, and an event may publish procedures affecting timing administration, match officials or other operational details. The appointed competition documents should therefore be checked before applying this page to a school, youth or modified event.

The July 2026 implementation notice also preserves a real transition issue: events beginning after 1 July use the revised laws, but a competition already mid-season may use a union-set implementation date. No separate HSBC SVNS, Olympic, national-union or university variation is asserted on this page.

What the referee has to establish

1. Identify the offence, stated sanction and any advantage.
2. Set the Law 20.1 mark and communicate a later 10-metre advance if required.
3. Check the kicker's location, the ball used, visible movement and team-mate positions.
4. Manage the opponents' retreat, non-participation and non-interference duties.
5. Apply the chosen option: open play, touch, sevens drop-kick at goal, scrum or lineout election.
6. For a free-kick, distinguish a fair charge from early interference and retain the Law 8.29 dropped-goal restriction until a listed event occurs.
7. At time expiry, apply Law 5.7 to decide whether the half continues.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• World Rugby — Laws of the Game 2026, July 2026 revision: Laws 5, 7, 8, 17, 18 and 20; Sevens law variations
• World Rugby — Law 20: Penalty and free-kick, clauses 20.1–20.17
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 20.8: permitted kicking methods
• World Rugby — Law 8: Scoring, clauses 8.18–8.29
• World Rugby — Sevens variations to Law 8.21 and 8.24: 30-second penalty goal and mandatory drop-kick
• World Rugby — Law 18.8: touch location and team to throw
• World Rugby — Sevens variation to Law 18.8: 50:22 does not apply
• World Rugby — Law 5.7: completion of play after time expires
• World Rugby — July 2026 law update and implementation notice
• World Rugby — law changes effective 1 July 2024: removal of the free-kick scrum option

Checked on 28 August 2026 against World Rugby's July 2026 English law book, current live law pages and implementation notice. Competition, union, age-grade and authorised community regulations may supplement or modify the baseline and must be checked for the match concerned.