SRSport Rules
Rugby

Lineouts and knock-ons, separated.

A lineout restarts play after the ball goes into touch. A knock-on, now described in the laws as a knock forward, is a handling error where the ball goes forward from a player's hand or arm and the player does not regather it cleanly before it touches the ground or another player.

Quick ruling: touch usually brings a lineout; an accidental knock forward usually brings a scrum to the other team unless advantage is played or the ball goes into touch.
Lineout basics

When play restarts from touch

A lineout is used after the ball or a ball-carrier goes into touch and play has stopped. The throw is taken from the mark of touch, with players from both teams forming parallel lines between the five-metre and 15-metre lines.

  • The ball must be thrown straight enough for both teams to contest it.
  • The ball must travel at least five metres before it is played.
  • Jumpers may be lifted and supported, but early jumping, early contact, and dangerous interference are offences.
  • Who throws in depends on how the ball reached touch, including special kick-to-touch rules.
Knock-on basics

What counts as forward

A knock-on is judged toward the opponent's dead-ball line, not toward the TV camera or the touchline. It can happen when a player loses possession forward, bats the ball forward with hand or arm, or has the ball strike hand or arm and travel forward.

  • If the same player catches the ball before it touches the ground or another player, it is not completed as a knock-on.
  • A deliberate knock forward is more serious than an accidental handling error and can be penalised.
  • A charge-down is treated differently from an ordinary knock-on.
  • If the non-offending team gains a clear benefit, the referee may play advantage.
Decision path

How officials sort the restart

  1. Check whether the ball went into touch, was knocked forward, or both happened in sequence.
  2. If touch happened first, identify which team was responsible for the ball going out.
  3. If a knock-on happened first, decide whether advantage is available to the non-offending team.
  4. If there is no advantage from an accidental knock forward, restart with a scrum to the other team.
  5. If the ball goes into touch after a knock forward, the non-offending team may have the option of a quick throw or lineout instead of the scrum.
Common mix-ups

Where fans argue

  • "It went forward off the chest": a knock-on needs hand or arm involvement, or loss of possession forward from a player carrying the ball.
  • "It drifted forward in the air": forward is judged by direction from the player, so momentum and camera angle can mislead.
  • "The throw was not perfectly straight": officials look for a throw that unfairly favours one side, not tiny movement visible only on replay.
  • "The lineout should always go to the other team": penalty kicks, kicks from different field positions, and other touch laws can change who throws.
Enforcement

What the referee watches

For lineouts, officials watch the mark, the numbers, the gap, the throw, lifting safety, and whether players cross or interfere before the contest is legal. For knock-ons, they judge the first forward contact, whether the same player regathered cleanly, and whether the other team gained enough for advantage to be over.