What Is Not Allowed in Rugby: Rules, Penalties, and Common Violations

When you watch rugby, it looks like pure chaos—players tackling, scrumming, rucking—but underneath that noise are strict rules that keep the game fair and safe. What is not allowed in rugby, a set of enforced restrictions designed to protect players and maintain structured play. These aren’t suggestions—they’re penalties that stop the game, award free kicks, or send players off. Unlike some sports where physical contact is borderline, rugby has very clear lines between legal and illegal actions.

One of the biggest no-nos is dangerous tackling, any tackle that makes contact above the shoulders or uses the head as the primary point of impact. This includes high tackles, spear tackles, and even late hits on players who’ve already passed the ball. The sport’s governing bodies treat this seriously because head injuries can be life-changing. Then there’s offside, when a player is in front of the ball carrier or the last foot of their own team during play. You can’t just run ahead and wait for the pass—it’s not football. Offside calls happen constantly, and they’re often the reason plays get blown dead.

Rucking and mauling are central to rugby, but they have strict boundaries. You can’t join a ruck from the side, stand on a player, or use your hands to pull the ball out once it’s in the ruck. The ball must be played with the feet, and players must stay on their feet. Same with mauls—blocking or collapsing them is a penalty. Even something as simple as not releasing the ball after being tackled, or holding on too long to stop the opposition from gaining possession, is a foul. These rules exist to keep the game flowing, not to turn it into a wrestling match.

There are also lesser-known but equally important bans: no throwing the ball forward—ever. Even if you’re trying to help a teammate, forward passes result in scrums to the other team. No kicking the ball out on the full from inside your own 22 unless you’re under pressure. No grabbing jerseys to pull someone down. No lying on the ball to prevent a ruck. These aren’t just technicalities—they’re the reason rugby stays fast, fair, and physical without becoming brutal.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a rulebook. It’s real examples, common misunderstandings, and why certain plays get called—whether it’s a penalty at the scrum or a red card for a dangerous tackle. You’ll see how even experienced players slip up, and how the best teams stay on the right side of the line. If you’ve ever watched a game and wondered, "Why did they stop play for that?"—this is your answer.