What Is a Knock-On in Rugby?

A knock-on in rugby union happens when the ball goes forward off a player's hand or arm and touches the ground or another player before that player can catch it. "Forward" means towards the other team's dead-ball line, the direction your team is attacking.

You may also hear it called a knock forward. That is the name World Rugby's law book now uses. It means exactly the same thing, and most people on the sideline still say knock-on.

A simple example of a knock-on

Tama runs onto a pass, but the ball bounces off his fingers and drops onto the grass in front of him. That is a knock-on.

If he fumbles the ball forward but catches it again before it touches the ground or anyone else, there is no knock-on and play carries on.

Other common knock-ons:

• Dropping the ball forward when you are tackled.
• Reaching for a pass with one hand and patting it forward.
• A defender trying to catch or block a pass and knocking it forward.

When is it not a knock-on?

• The ball goes backwards or sideways. A dropped ball is only a knock-on if it goes forward.
• A charge-down. If you block an opponent's kick straight after they kick it and the ball goes forward off you, play continues.
• The ball is ripped away. If a defender strips the ball and it goes forward from the ball carrier's hand or arm, play continues. But a tackler who knocks the ball forward while making a tackle has made a knock-on.

What happens after a knock-on?

• A scrum to the other team. This is the usual result. The scrum is set near the place where the knock-on happened.
• Advantage first. The referee may let play continue if the other team gains a clear benefit, such as picking up the ball and running into space. If no real advantage comes, the referee goes back for the scrum.
• If the ball goes into touch, the other team can choose a lineout or a quick throw instead of the scrum.
• A deliberate knock-on is a penalty. Knocking the ball forward on purpose, for example to stop a pass, gives the other team a penalty. A player who is genuinely trying to catch the ball, with a reasonable chance of catching it, has not knocked on deliberately.

Knock-on vs forward pass

Both send the ball forward from the hands, and both usually lead to a scrum for the other team. The difference is how the ball goes forward:

• Knock-on: the ball is dropped, fumbled or hit forward off the hand or arm.
• Forward pass: the player throws or passes the ball forward. In rugby union, every pass must go backwards or level. World Rugby calls this a throw forward.

Throwing a forward pass on purpose is also a penalty. For the passing rule explained simply, read the one big rule: pass backwards or level.

Junior and modified games can have their own rules, so check with your club or coach.

Quick summary

• A knock-on is when the ball goes forward off your hand or arm and touches the ground or another player.
• It usually means a scrum to the other team, often after the referee has played advantage.
• Knocking the ball forward on purpose is a penalty.
• A knock-on is a dropped or hit ball. A forward pass is a thrown ball.

Next guide: how rugby scoring works.