Rugby Pitch

A Rugby field, called the pitch, is a grassy flat surface which has maximum playing area of 144x70 meters. Rugby Union pitches are normally wider than Rugby League pitches.

Lines are painted on to the field at regular intervals; dead ball line, goal line (also known as the try line), 22-m line (before the metric system was introduced, this was the 25-yard line), 10-m line (broken line) and half-way/midfield. This is mirrored on the other side of the field.

Lines are also located 5 m away from the goal line and touchline and 15 m from the touchline (broken line). The length from goal line to goal line is usually 100 m, although the IRB rules merely stipulate this as the maximum. The width of the playing field, and the distance from goal line to the dead ball line varies from pitch to pitch. Interestingly, there is no rule to say that the pitch needs to be flat or level.

The H shaped goal horizontal bar is 10 feet high above the ground. Vertical bars are 18 feet and 10 inches apart: post have to be high 11 feet and 4 inches or more.

1.2-m flags are placed next to the field for indication on the halfway line, 22, goal line and dead ball line. The goal line and dead ball line flags are put on the intersection with the touchline and are considered out if hit by a player carrying the ball, or the ball itself.

In rugby union, unlike association football, the lines bordering the field of play are regarded as completely out of play. For example, a player standing on but not over the touchline is regarded to be "in touch". Similarly the goal line (and the goalposts) are considered part of the in-goal area, so a player may score a try by grounding the ball on the goal line (or against the base of one of the posts). But the dead ball line is considered outside the in-goal area, so a try is not awarded if the ball grounds on it.