What counts as a knock-on?
The law gives three ways to knock the ball forward. A player loses possession and the ball goes forward. A player hits the ball forward with the hand or arm. Or the ball hits a player's hand or arm and goes forward. In each case it only becomes a knock-on if the ball then touches the ground or another player before the same player can catch it.
Forward means towards the opposition's dead-ball line, the line at the back of the in-goal area your team is attacking. A knock-on can happen anywhere in the playing area, which is the field of play plus both in-goal areas.
Why the law book says knock forward
World Rugby renamed the knock-on as a knock forward in a set of terminology changes meant to make the game easier to understand for fans, players and match officials. The same changes renamed the goal line as the try line. The definition in the current law book carries the note "previously knock-on", and Law 11 is titled "Knock forward or throw forward". Both names describe the same offence.
What does the referee give?
The sanction for an accidental knock-on is a scrum. The other team throws the ball in, at the point in the scrum zone closest to where the knock-on happened.
| Situation | What the referee gives |
|---|---|
| Accidental knock-on in the field of play | Scrum to the other team, at the nearest point in the scrum zone |
| Accidental knock-on that goes into touch | The other team chooses a scrum, a lineout or a quick throw |
| Knock-on at a lineout | Scrum to the other team, 15 metres in from the mark of touch |
| An attacking player knocks on in the opponents' in-goal | Try line drop-out to the defending team |
| Charge-down straight after an opponent kicks | No sanction, play continues |
| A rip or knock that sends the ball forward from the ball carrier's hand or arm | No sanction, play continues |
| Deliberate knock-on | Penalty to the other team |
The referee does not have to stop play straight away. Under the advantage law, play can continue if the other team gains a clear and real advantage, which can be tactical, territorial or both. A mere chance of an advantage is not enough. If the referee decides no advantage is likely to come, play stops and the scrum is given.
When does the ball go forward without a knock-on?
Law 11 names two situations where the ball goes forward off a player and there is no sanction.
- Charge-down. A player knocks the ball forward immediately after an opponent has kicked it. Play continues.
- Rip. A player rips or knocks the ball from a ball carrier, and the ball goes forward from the ball carrier's hand or arm. Play continues.
Do not mix up the rip with a tackle. When a player who is tackling, or trying to tackle, makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward, the law calls that a knock forward, and the referee gives a scrum.
When is a knock-on a penalty?
A player must not knock the ball forward on purpose with the hand or arm. That is a penalty, not a scrum. The law protects players who are trying to catch: it is not an intentional knock forward if the player was trying to catch the ball and there was a reasonable expectation that they could gain possession.
That test does not decide whether a knock-on happened. It decides whether the knock-on was deliberate. A player who reaches for a pass and drops it forward has still knocked on, and the other team still gets a scrum. World Rugby's law application guidance says players must try to catch the ball. Referees use their judgement to decide whether the player had a reasonable expectation of catching it and gaining possession, and then what sanction to give.
The penalty try follows from how the laws treat intent. Intentionally breaking any law counts as foul play, and a penalty try is given when foul play prevents a probable try.
How it looks in a match
For a knock-on, the referee holds an arm outstretched above the head with the hand open and moves it backwards and forwards. For the scrum that follows, the referee stands with shoulders parallel to the touchline and points an arm out horizontally towards the team that will throw in. While advantage is being played, the referee holds an arm out at waist height towards the team that did not knock on, for about five seconds.
Common confusions
- "I caught it again." If you regather the ball before it touches the ground or another player, it is not a knock-on.
- "It only hit my arm." A ball that hits your hand or arm and goes forward counts, even if you never meant to touch it.
- "It came out backwards." The law only covers a ball that goes forward, so a ball that goes backwards out of your hands is not a knock-on.
- "He was trying to catch it." Trying to catch only matters when deciding whether the knock-on was deliberate. An honest drop that goes forward is still a knock-on.
- "A knock-on near the line is a penalty try." Only foul play, such as a deliberate knock-on, can lead to a penalty try.
Is it different in sevens or junior rugby?
World Rugby's variations for sevens, tens and under-19 rugby do not change Law 11, and neither do its Game On variations, which unions can use in community rugby. What can change is what happens next. A sevens scrum has three players from each team and a tens scrum has five. Sevens also deletes the try line drop-out law, so the in-goal row in the table above does not apply in sevens. Under Game On, match organisers can reduce the numbers in a contested scrum, use the under-19 limit on how far a scrum can be pushed, or use uncontested scrums. Unions may also have their own age-grade law variations for younger players, so check with your union if you coach or referee junior rugby.