Direct to Touch Meaning in Rugby Union

Direct to touch refers to a kick that goes out of bounds without bouncing inside the field of play first. The rules for this depend on where the player is standing when they perform the kick. If a player is outside their own twenty-two metre area and kicks the ball direct to touch, the game restarts from where they kicked it. This is usually a bad result because it means the team loses a lot of potential territory on the field. However, if the player is inside their twenty-two metre line, they can kick directly out to gain distance safely. This rule encourages teams to run and pass the ball rather than constantly kicking it out of play. It makes the game more exciting by keeping the ball on the grass for longer periods of time. For example, a fly-half might accidentally kick the ball direct to touch from the halfway line while under pressure. The referee will bring the play all the way back to where the kick started for a lineout. It is a costly error.