Try Tag Rugby London use the Oztag rules of Tag Rugby. The only major difference is that most competitions are played in the 7 a side format, rather than 8 a side. In mixed competitions, teams must have at least three females on the pitch at any time. In the instance of a team being short of the required three females, the opposing team shall be rewarded an extra point for all female tries scored. If a team is short two females, then the opposing team will get two extra points for a female try.   

At a glance

a) The Basics
• Tag Rugby is a minimal contact version of rugby.
• Teams are generally 7 a side, though certain venues may have different team numbers depending on the size of the available pitch.
• A try is awarded to the attacking team when they ground the ball on or over the try line.
• A try is worth one point. In a mixed game, female tries are worth two points. There are no conversions in Tag Rugby.
• Defenders must remove one or both tags to stop the ball carrier’s progress. The defender then holds up the tag and drops it to the ground marking where the play the ball should occur.
• After a tag is made, play resumes by the attacker placing the ball on the ground and rolling it backwards with his foot. This is called a play the ball.
• The defensive side is allowed one marker at the play the ball. That being, one defender who is allowed to stand opposite the attacker during the play the ball.
• The remainder of the defending team must be back seven metres from the attacking player during the play the ball.
• A dummy half is the attacking player who picks the ball up and distributes it after the play the ball. The only person able to promote the ball with one tag on is the dummy half or an equivalent player taking a tap restart (as long as they do not take more than one step with the ball)
• The defensive line can only move forward only when the dummy half touches the ball. The dummy half can run and be tagged with the ball.
• The dummy half has three seconds to pick up the ball after the play the ball. If after three seconds the ball has not been picked up, a turnover shall be awarded to the defending team. In NO instance is the marker allowed to dive on or pick up the ball during the play the ball process. If this occurs, a penalty will be awarded to the attacking team.
• Each team has six tags / plays to promote ball before a changeover occurs. 
• An attacker must stop and play the ball if he is caught in possession with only one tag on.
• The ball is allowed to touch the ground as long as it is not propelled in a forward motion.
• The game is minimal contact; an attacker cannot deliberately bump into a defender. A defender cannot change direction and move into an attacker’s path. Whoever initiates contact will be penalised. The onus is on the attacking player to avoid the defender.
• The ball carrier is not allowed to protect his tag or fend off defenders.
• If an attacker is tagged simultaneously to releasing the ball, the referee will call play on. (If the referee is unable to decide, the pass is allowed - play on. The advantage goes to attacking team.)
• Players can dive to score a try, however, if this player touches the ground with the knees or arms before the try line or slides across the line and a defender is within tagging distance a try is disallowed and a tag is counted.
• A player can go down on their knees to score a try over the try line.

b) Kicking
• A team may kick the ball before the initial tag is made. (e.g. a team picks up the ball in general play from a kickoff, knock on, loose ball etc may kick the ball before being tagged.) Once a tag has been made, the ball may not be kicked again till after the fourth tag.
• Kicks in general play cannot be above the shoulder height of the referee. The attacking team cannot dive on a kicked ball in any situation or kick the ball off the ground.
• The try line is the dead ball line for all kicks. There are no in goal areas in Tag Rugby.
• A kick off is taken as a place kick from the centre of the halfway line. If the ball lands in the field of play and then rolls across the try line whether touched or not a line drop out occurs.
• A line drop out is a drop kick taken from the centre of the defending team’s try line.
c) Misconduct
• Abuse of referees or officials will not be tolerated. Referees have the full power to sin bin, send off and suspend players from Try Tag Rugby competitions.
• Try Tag Rugby Ltd will hand out lengthy penalties for violent or unsporting behaviour. 

Please download the full Oztag rule book for a more detailed explanation of the rules.