In case you’re coming back to tag for the summer or joining a league with the new tag laws for the first time, or just need a refresher, here’s some information on what’s changed in the laws of tag rugby in 2023.
Equipment
I know lots of people like to keep track of their numbers with FitBits, Apple Watches, and similar devices. These were technically prohibited until now, although I’m not sure how well-enforced that ever was. In the new laws, it’s made clear that you can wear this type of device as long as it’s completely covered with a soft sweatband that is tight to the skin.
If you have shorts with drawstrings, these have to be tightened up properly and tucked in. Shorts also have to be worn properly at the waist and be the right size, not too large. Wearing multiple pairs or shorts isn’t allowed.
Kick-off
The team winning the toss gets to choose both which way to run and whether to kick off or receive. Some referees used to give one choice to the team that wins and then the other choice passed to the other captain.
After a kick-off, the non-kicking team can play the ball before it gets to the 10m line. The non-kicking team cannot play the ball, or “shepherd” it by blocking off other players. This is likely to make short kicks a bad idea. Same applies at goal-line drop-outs.
Should the ball bounce in play and go over the try line, it will be a goal-line drop-out even if a defender catches it. (It’s still play-on if the ball is caught on the full over the try line.)
General play
If a kick in general play goes over the try line and touches the floor or a defending player, the ball is dead. Tap restart on 10m and the next tag will be tag zero.
After a late tag if the non-offending team keeps or recovers the ball, the next tag is tag zero. If they do not keep or recover the ball, it’s a penalty just like before.
Negative play: It sometimes happens that the attacking team stops and refuses to attack and the defending team stops and refuses to go for a tag. Should this happen the referee can call “play now” and give the attacking team 3 seconds to attempt to attack. If they do not, a tag is counted. Repeated violations may result in a penalty.
Surrender
To surrender is to give up attempting to attack and get yourself tagged, with the intention to get a quick roll-ball. Both of these elements must be in place. The referee must decide whether they feel the ball carrier is intending to get quick roll-ball.
Surrenders can include stopping and waiting to be tagged as well as standing in place swivelling the hips, or running very slowly laterally in front of a defender, as well as similar manoeuvres.
It does not count as a surrender when a player stops to avoid contact or to avoid going into touch.
Diving
Diving is a major change in the rules. In general play, the rule used to say that only the defending team can dive. This has changed. After a kick, the non-kicking team can dive, like before. But at any other time when there’s a loose ball, the attacking team (i.e. the team last in possession) can dive on it. This covers situations like a loose pass or a knock-back. Additionally, after a kick through, the kicking team can dive on the ball to score a try, but not otherwise.
A player who has crossed the try line may go to ground in the act of scoring.
Any diving must be safe: no contact, and no diving over or under any players.
All diving violations result in a penalty.
A few reminders
These rules haven’t changed, but it’s worth reminding ourselves of them.
- When a player goes to ground, including a legal dive, is in possession of the ball, and an opponent is within tagging distance (arm’s reach), this counts as a tag. If no opponent is nearby, the player can get up with the ball and it’s play-on.
- If the ball is knocked-on close to the try line by an attacking player, the roll-ball comes out 10 metres from the try line (and 10 metres from the touch line if applicable). If the ball goes dead in goal, it’s a tap in the centre of the 10 metre line. No tag zero.
- If the ball goes into touch, the roll-ball is taken 10m out from the touch-line in line with where the ball crossed the line. This does not come out 10m from the try-line.
- If taking a tap-kick, the ball should be held in two hands and touched off the foot. The ball doesn’t need to leave the hands or travel a visible distance. The exception is a tap taken in lieu of a roll-ball (i.e. no marker) which has to be taken from the floor with hands off the ball.
Optional rules
Some leagues will be applying optional rules; these include:
Bonus box
A 5m wide 3m deep box marked with red cones in the middle of the try-line. Tries scored here gain an extra point, so 2 points for men and 3 points for women.
Mercy rule
If a team is 10 points or more behind, then that team takes all restarts after a try, regardless of who just scored, by a tap kick on halfway. When the mercy rule is in effect, the bonus box is suspended for the team that’s ahead.