Touch Rugby Rules
(Abbreviated F.I.T. 4th edition)
Players
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6 on field at any time with rolling subs – 3 men, 3 women on pitch at all times.
All subs must be made (exit & enter) through designated ‘sub-box’
Making a touch
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Any contact on a player, clothing or ball, initiated by attacker or defender
Attacker must perform a roll ball on the mark, defender must get onside (see below)
Dummy half restarts play by picking up the ball and passing: a dummy half cannot score and
if they are tackled the ball is turned over
Touch behind the try-line is a restart on the 5 m line
Each team has 6 touches before a turnover
Offside
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All defenders must retreat to referee (at least 5m or to try line - if closer) after each touch
Defenders can move forward after dummy half touches ball, or on referee calling ‘play
through’ (when no dummy half is within 1m of the ball after a roll-ball)
Turnover (Rollball & six touches)
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On sixth touch
Dummy half caught
Intentional knock on/ failed interception (if interception failed but attackers still catch, reset
touches to 0 and play on)
Penalty offences (Reset touches, tap restart & defenders retreat 10m)
A player taking a tap restart is not classed as a dummy half. Penalties are awarded for:
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Restart after a try is scored (from centre of pitch)
Forward pass
Offside play
Performing a roll ball over the mark or with no touch
Claiming a Touch when none was made
Interfering with the roll ball (running around the ruck)
Touch pass (passing the ball once touched)
Obstruction [may also result in sin bin]
Abuse of referee or players [may also result in sin bin]
Excessive contact [may also result in sin bin]
Foul play [may also result in sin bin]
* Serious or continued foul play of any nature will result in player being sent off without
replacement.
** The principle of advantage will be applied if possible.