Laws of Tag Rugby

The Basics

• Tag Rugby is a non-contact version of rugby.
• A try is awarded to the attacking team when they ground the ball on or over the try line.
• A try is worth one In a mixed game, female tries are worth two points. There are no conversions in Tag Rugby.
• Defenders must remove a tag to stop the ball carrier’s The defender then holds up the tag and drops it to the ground marking where the play the ball should occur.
• After a tag is made, play resumes by the attacker placing the ball on the ground and rolling it backwards with his. This is called a play the ball.
• The defensive side is allowed one marker at the play the That being, one defender who can stand opposite the attacker within a meter during the play the ball.
• The remainder of the defending team must be back seven meters with the referee from the attacking player during the play the ball.
• A dummy half is the attacking player who picks the ball up and distributes it after the play the ball. The only person able to promote the ball with one tag on is the dummy half or an equivalent player taking a tap restart (as long as they do not take more than one step with the ball).
• The defensive line can only move forward when the dummy half touches the The dummy half can run and be tagged with the ball.
• The dummy half has three seconds to pick up the ball after the play the ball. If after three seconds the ball has not been picked up, a turnover shall be awarded to the defending In NO instance is the marker allowed to dive on or pick up the ball during the play the ball process. If this occurs, a penalty will be awarded to the attacking team. The referee may opt to start the 3 second count before the play the ball if the player who is playing the ball doesn’t play the ball immediately when returning to the mark.
• Each team has six tags / plays to promote the ball before a changeover occurs.
• An attacker must stop and play the ball if he is caught in possession with only one tag on.
• Players are not allowed to Surrendering is a voluntary tackle, which will result in a penalty.
• The ball can touch the ground if it is not propelled in a forward motion.
• The game is minimal contact; an attacker cannot deliberately bump into a A defender cannot change direction and move into an attacker’s path. Whoever initiates contact will be penalized. The onus is on the attacking player to avoid the defender.
• The ball carrier is not allowed to protect his tag or fend off defenders.
• If an attacker is tagged simultaneously to releasing the ball, the referee will call play (If the referee is unable to decide, the pass is allowed - play on. The advantage goes to attacking team.)
• If a player trips/falls and lands on their knees, it will be play on if a defender is not within tagging If a player trips/falls and lands on their knees and a defender is within tagging distance, it will be deemed a tag
• A player can go down on their knees to score a try over the try line.

Kicking

• Kicking on any tag is allowed.
• Kicks in general play cannot be above the shoulder height of the The attacking team cannot dive on a kicked ball in any situation.
• A kickoff is taken as a place kick from the center of the halfway If the ball lands in the field of play and then rolls across the try line whether touched or not, a line drop out occurs.
• A line drop out is a drop kick taken from the center of the defending team’s try line.

MORE DETAIL

On the northern hemisphere they adopt the official rules of OZtag. The only major differences are as follows:

1. Matches are played generally for most leagues in the 7 a side format, rather than 8 a Tag Rugby mixed competitions are played with four males and three females on the pitch at any time. Some leagues are played in the 6 a side (3 males & 3 females) and 5 a side (3 males and 2 females) formats.
2. Kick offs are taken by the team which scored the try, not the team which conceded the try.
3. Diving - Players can dive to score a try provided no defending player is within tagging distance (1m). If a defender is within tagging distance, the try will be disallowed.
4. Attacking team players cannot dive on a loose ball (whether kicked or not). A penalty will be given if this occurs.
5. Tagging across the body is not allowed (beginner / intermediate mixed grade matches only). Regular Oztag rules remain for A Grade, Super League and Men’s). If a defender removes both tags from a ball carrier — that player is deemed to have impeded the ball carrier and will be penalized. Defenders must always attempt to remove a tag from the near side of the ball carrier. A defender who reaches across the front of a ball carrier to remove a tag will be penalized. 
   Note: If a defender is approaching the ball carrier from behind, they may remove tags from both sides of the attacker providing no contact is initiated. Please note, even in A Grade, Super League or Men’s leagues, players who initiate contact whilst tagging across the body of the attacker will, as per the Oztag rule book, still be penalized.
6. Kicking is allowed on any tag!
7. A call of simultaneous tag on an attacking player's kick followed up by another kick before regathering will not be called as a Play will be allowed to continue. Please remember that you cannot kick a loose ball when an opponent is reaching for it.
8. Passing over the try line will result in a tag, not a If a player is trying to pass to a teammate, they must do so before crossing the try line. If they pass to a teammate after crossing the try line (or after crossing the try line and running back into the field of play), the try is disallowed, and a further tag is called. A play the ball five meters out is awarded to the attacking team.
9. Red cards (straight send offs) will result in minus 5 points to the Any team which has a player sent off, will be deducted 5 points from their current match score. So, for instance if your team is winning 10-6 with one minute to go and your player gets sent off, your team will lose 6-5. There is no points deduction for teams of players who are sin binned (temporarily sent off).
10. Compulsory female kick-offs in mixed It is compulsory for females to take kick-offs in all mixed competition matches. Any player is still allowed to take a line drop out. (The only exception is Super League - where a player of either gender can kick-off)