Official Oztag
rules.

The Rule Book

Download the Official Oztag Rulebook (PDF)

A basic overview of the rules

• Oztag is a non-tackling version of rugby league. Maximum of 8 players at any one time.
• The defender must remove one or both tags to stop the attacker’s progress. They then hold up the tag and drop it to the ground, marking where the play-the-ball should occur.
• There is a marker in the play-the-ball.
• Defence must be back seven metres.
• The defensive line can move forward only when the dummy half touches the ball. The dummy half can run and be tagged with the ball.
• Six tags/plays to promote the ball before changeover.
• An attacker must stop and play the ball if in possession with only one tag on.
• The only persons able to promote the ball with one tag on are the dummy half, and the player taking the tap (as long as they do not take more than one step with the ball).
• A knock back is play on; knock-on advantage rule applies — same as league.
• The game is non-contact. The attacker cannot deliberately bump into a defender. A defender cannot change direction and move into the 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 their tag or fend off defenders.
• A try is awarded to the attacking team when they ground the ball on or over the try line.
• Simultaneous tag is play on. If the referee is unable to decide, the pass is allowed — play on. The advantage goes to the attacking team.
• An attacker may pass the ball over their try-line to a team-mate who may run the ball out. If the ball is dropped, the ball is deemed dead. A player in possession may run behind their try-line and back out into the field of play.
• Players can dive to score a try; however, if the player touches the ground with 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.

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 kick-off, knock-on or loose ball may kick the ball before being tagged). Once a tag has been made, the ball may not be kicked again until 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, but can kick on.
• Kick-offs and line drop-outs: 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. The try line becomes the dead-ball line for all kicks.
• If the ball is kicked or passed into the referee, the referee will order a changeover where they were struck.

Misconduct

• Unsportsmanlike conduct covers the behaviour and attitude of players on the field and may result in a penalty, sin bin or dismissal.
• The Australian Oztag Sports Association has and will hand out lengthy penalties for fighting.