Offside in open play
World Rugby · 2026Retreating after a kick and the separate rules for becoming onside.
Position and retreat
A player ahead of a teammate carrying or last playing the ball is offside and must not interfere. After a teammate’s kick, players covered by the 10-metre law must retreat immediately behind an onside teammate or the required line from where the ball lands or is caught. Opponent actions do not put them onside, except a charge-down.
Becoming onside
An offside player can retreat behind the teammate who last played the ball or another onside teammate. Outside the special kick restriction, an onside teammate passing them or an opponent kicking or intentionally touching without possession may put them onside. Merely catching the ball is insufficient. Offside remaining from a ruck, maul, scrum or lineout has separate retreat and opponent-action rules; it does not disappear when that phase ends.
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