Touch Meaning in Rugby Union

Touch refers to the area outside the two sidelines of the rugby field. When the ball or the person carrying it crosses these lines, the ball is considered dead and in touch. This stops the game and results in a lineout to restart play. Players often intentionally kick the ball into touch to gain ground and move the play away from their own goal. This is a vital defensive tactic called clearing your lines to relieve pressure. For example, a defender might catch the ball in his own twenty-two and kick it far into touch. This moves the battle fifty meters down the field and gives his team time to reorganize their defense. The rules for how you kick into touch depend on where you are standing on the field. If you kick it out directly from outside your twenty-two, the lineout happens where you kicked it. Understanding touch is fundamental to following the tactical battle for territory and field position. It is the boundary that defines the limits of the playing surface.