An ankle-tap or tap-tackle is a form of tackle. It is used when the player carrying the ball is running at speed and a defending player is approaching from behind.

Also called the gain line. It is an imaginary line drawn across the centre of the pitch when there is a breakdown in open play, such as a ruck, maul or scrum. Advancing across the gain line represents [..]

"Advantage" is the period of time after an infringement, in which the non-offending side has the opportunity to gain sufficient territory or tactical opportunity to negate the need to stop t [..]

If the ball enters touch, then play is restarted by a line-out at the point where the ball left the field of play. The exception to this is if the ball is kicked into touch on the full. In this case, [..]

The narrow side of the pitch in relation to a scrum or a breakdown in play; it is the opposite of open side. The blindside flanker is expected to cover the opposing team open side at scrum and breakdo [..]

Bonus points are a method of deciding table points from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to r [..]

The blitz defense is a defensive technique similar to the defense used in rugby league. It relies on the whole defensive line moving forward towards their marked man as one, as soon as the ball leaves [..]

It is also called blood replacement. A player who has a visible bleeding injury may be replaced for up to fifteen minutes (running time not game time), during which he or she may receive first-aid tre [..]

This is a kick taken from behind a scrum, normally by the scrum-half, in which he turns away from the scrum facing the touchline, and kicks the ball back over the scrum into the clear "box" [..]

The breakdown is a colloquial term for the period immediately after a tackle and the ensuing ruck. During this time teams compete for possession of the ball, initially with their hands and then using [..]