The one big rule: why rugby passes go backwards or level

Ask a new player what makes rugby different, and the answer is usually the passing.

The aim of the game

In our free starter book, Mia explains it like this: "Get the ball to the other team's try line and press it down on or over the line. That's a try."

For grown-ups: World Rugby's laws say a try is scored when a player is "first to ground the ball in the opponents' in-goal" (Law 8.2a), and the in-goal "includes the try line".

The big rule

You can run forwards with the ball. But when you pass, the ball must go backwards or level. A pass that goes forwards is called a throw forward, and it's not allowed.

For grown-ups: World Rugby's laws say "a player must not intentionally throw or pass the ball forward" (Law 11.7).

Try this at home

1. Stand side by side with your child, both facing the same way.
2. Walk forwards together and pass the ball across, level.
3. Now let your child drop a step behind you and pass again.
4. Ask: "Which way did the ball go?"

Junior rugby rules vary by country, age and club, so check your club's rules for the details.

Flip through the Starter Playbook