Rugby Field

The rugby field (pitch) step by step. Video, pictures, details and explanations. Look and understand. Get the complete picture and be confident so you remember.

Rugby field video

View this video for a brief introduction to the layout and dimensions of the field and some related rules.

Continue for a similar step by step presentation giving more details so you can be confident you know what it`s all about when you`re on the field.

Main features of rugby field layout and rules

Rugby field, main features highlighted Rugby field

Colours highlight features

Red - dashed line, distance from touch line to the front of a lineout.

Orange - between dashed lines, maximum length of lineout

Purple - dashed line, minimum distance for kick-off/restart kicks

Black - dashed line, distance from goal-line of 5-metre scrums

Grey - from goal-line to 22-metre line is the 22-metre area

Blue - goal-line to dead-ball line, in-goal area where tries are scored

For more details continue to "Ground area", then "Next step"

or just select a topic

Ground area
Field outline
Halfway line
Goal-line and in-goal area
22 metre line and 22 area
10 metre line
5 metre line - in from touch
15 metre line - in from touch
5 metre line - out from goal line
All lines
Field dimensions

The Rugby Field Ground Area

Rugby field ground area

"Rugby ground" is the area of land where the field/pitch is laid out.

It should be grass but other surfaces which are not hard are allowed.

Rugby grounds include the field and the area closely surrounding it.

Next step... Return to Select a topic

Rugby Field outline

Rugby field outline

There's a touch-line along each side and a dead-ball line at each end.

These are important lines.

If the ball or a player carrying the ball touches any of these lines (or anything or anyone outside these lines) the ball is out of play.

The game stops and must be re-started.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

Halfway line

The halfway line divides the field into two equal halves.

Two teams play. Each team defends one half of the field and attacks the other.

At half time the teams swap ends.

Deep in your own half is where you may be catching the high ball delivered by the opposition using the "up-and-under" kick.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

Goal-line and in-goal area

Goal-line, one for each end of the field

A rugby pitch (same meaning as rugby field) has a goal-line for each half of the field.

At the centre of each goal-line is a set of goal posts.

You score rugby tries when you touch the ball on the ground in the in-goal area of the other team.

Their in-goal area

is the goal-line itself........TRY!
is the ground behind the goal-liine.......TRY!
EXCLUDES the touch-line behind the goal-line NO try!!!!!!
EXCLUDES - the dead ball line..NO try!!!!!!

The touch-line behind the goal-line is called the touch-in-goal line

Sometimes you send the ball through the defence into the in-goal area with a rolling grubber kick and touch it down to score a try.

The field of play is the part of the field with the touch-lines along the sides and goal lines across the ends.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

22 Metre line and 22 area

22 Metre line, one for each end of the field

Lines 22 metres out from the goal-lines in each half show the "22 areas" of the field. "22 areas" are made up of

the 22 metre lines themselves
the ground behind the 22 metre lines back to the goal-lines
but NOT the goal-lines themselves

Sometimes the game restarts with a drop kick from within the 22 area. It must simply cross the 22-metre line.

The ball may be kicked "into touch" (across either touch-line) from anywhere on the field. It's a way of moving forward, gaining ground.

If you kick from behind your 22-metre line the game restarts where the ball crosses the touch-line.
It's different if the kick is from in front of your 22-metre line. If the ball bounces on the field before going into touch the game restarts where the ball crosses the touch-line. If the ball doesn't bounce the game restarts in line with where the ball was kicked.
If the kicking team took the ball back behind the 22-metre line before the kick, it is treated as though the kick was from outside the 22-metre line.

You often kick for touch with a spiral punt kick from inside the 22 area.

Outside the 22 you sometimes kick for touch with a bouncing grubber kick to make sure it touches the ground before going in to touch.

Find out more about the different types of kick when you visit the kicking skills pages.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

10 Metre Line

10 metre line for each half of the field

In rugby games, play is started (and restarted after points are scored) with a kick from the centre of the halfway line towards the opposition who are waiting in their half of the field.

All the players of the team with the ball must be behind the kicker when the ball is kicked.

The ball must travel at least 10 metres beyond the halfway line.

So this can be easily judged a dashed line is placed 10 metres from halfway, both sides of the halfway line.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

5 Metre line - in from touch, dash line

5 metre line - in from touch, dash line on the field

Play stops when the ball goes "into touch" (across a touch-line).

Play restarts with a "lineout".

The ball is thrown from the touch-line into the space between two lines of players.

It must travel at least 5 metres.

These lines show the minimum distance the ball must travel.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

15 Metre line - in from touch, dash line

15 metre line - in from touch, dash line on a rugby field

Rugby players taking part in a lineout must stand within 15 metres of the touch line.

The 15 metre lines (one at each side of the field) show the maximum length of the lineout.

In some cases scrums, penalties or free kicks are to be 15 metres in from the touch-line. These lines show where that is.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

5 Metre line out from goal-line, dash line

5 metre line - out from goal-line, dash line on a rugby field

Sometimes a penalty or scrum will be awarded and must take place 5 metres from the goal-line, in line with a point along the goal-line decided by the match official.

These lines indicate the required distance from the goal-line.

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic

All lines on a rugby field

You may not think viewing the rugby field as a whole is easy.

Take it apart, see a bit at a time, put it back together as you have and you know you will remember the field layout

You could practice when you have spare moments.

Close your eyes, picture each part.

See how it all fits together.

Move around, change direction, go all over. See the lines you know. Think about the rules that apply and remember. You can use rugby sidesteps anywhere on the field!

Next step... Previous step... Return to Select a topic