Sports Information

Tag Rugby Rules
Teams:
Tag Rugby is played between two teams, a minimum of seven players to a team.
. Each team taking part will have a squad of 10 players including a minimum of 3 girls.
. There will be at least 2 girls and 2 boys on the field at any time during a match.
Equipment
Players each wear a tag rugby belt, which is a belt with two tags attached to it by Velcro. Players must have shirts tucked into shorts.
. A size 4 ball will be used.
Being Tackled:
Players must attempt to carry the ball in two hands.
A “tackle” is made when one or both of the tags are removed from the belt. The tackler must shout “Tag”. The tackled player must stop running within three paces. If the tackled player runs more than three paces, possession of the ball is lost and a “free pass” is awarded to the tacklers team. When a player is “tackled”, he or she must pass the ball backwards to a team-mate on his/her own side. The tackled player has up to three seconds to pass the ball.
. A tackled player may only rejoin play one he or she has both tags attached to the belt.
Players who prevent tacklers from taking the ball b y any other means than dodging will be penalised.
The Tackler:
. Once a “tackle” has been made, the tackler must stand at least one metre from the tackled player. The tackler must not interfere or deliberately “block” or obstruct the tackled players pass. If so, the tackler is ruled offside and a penalty will be awarded to the tackled players team.
. Once the ball is passed, the tackler must hand the tag back to the tackled player before either of them can rejoin the game. If the tackler throws or deliberately drops the tag on to the ground, a penalty will be awarded to the tackled players team.
Offside:
An imaginary “offside” line runs through the ball from touchline to touchline.
. Should a player receive or stand in front of their offside line and deliberately affect play, a free pass will be given to the opposition.
. Therefore players should always retreat behind the ball when not in possession themselves.
Forward passes and knock ons:
• A free pass will be awarded if a player passes the ball forwards or knocks the ball in front of themselves with their hands of arms.
Other rules:
• These will be as follows:
• For a “forward pass” or a “knock-on” a free pass is given to the opposition.
• For “offside” or “deliberate obstruction” a penalty is awarded to the opposition.
• The “Advantage Law” may be played by the referee. If no advantage is forthcoming, a “free pass” is awarded and the offending team must retire seven metres towards their own try line.
• If a player is forced into “touch” or “out-of-bounds” a “free pass” is given the opposing team from the place where the player or ball went into touch. The defending team must retire seven metres towards their own try line.
• Kicking of the ball of any sort is not allowed. Any kicking of the ball will be punished with a penalty against the player who made the kick.
• When play becomes unsafe, the referee will stop the game immediately. The game is restarted with a “free-pass to the team who were in possession of the ball or who were going forward with the ball before the referee blew for safety.
• In the case where a player has deliberately fouled a player from the opposition by using physical contact or tripping, a penalty will be awarded against the offenders team. The offender and offenders team captain will be warned by the referee. Any repeat of foul play by the same offender or by any of his/her team-mates will result in the culprit being “sent-off’. A replacement player will be permitted.
• Any player who has been “sent-off’ will not be permitted to play during his/her teams next match. Continual foul play by an individual will result in the player being “barred” from taking part in any further
• There will be no scrums or line outs.
• Players must remain on their feet at all times ;no diving is allowed, and will be penalised.