How does a rugby lineout work?
A lineout restarts play after the ball goes out of play over the touchline. It is one of rugby union's most tactical set pieces and involves considerably more organisation than it appears.
The basics. Forwards from both teams form two parallel lines, a metre apart, at right angles to the touchline. The team not responsible for the ball going out throws it in — except after a penalty kicked to touch, where the kicking team throws.
The throw must be straight down the gap between the two lines, and it must travel at least 5 metres.
The throwing team chooses the number of players in the lineout, and the opposition may not exceed that number — so the attacking side controls the size of the contest, and can shorten it to create space elsewhere.
Lifting is legal and central. Two supporting players lift a jumper, who must be supported until safely returned to the ground — dropping or tackling a player in the air is a serious offence, penalised strictly because of the injury risk.
The calls. The hooker throws to a pre-arranged position, communicated by a coded call. Teams run extensive lineout playbooks, and stealing opposition ball depends on reading those calls — which is why codes change during matches and why lineout coaches are specialist roles.
Common variations: a quick throw taken before the lineout forms, using the same ball and only if it has not been touched by anyone else; a shortened lineout with fewer players; a maul formed immediately after catching, driving toward the line, which is extremely difficult to stop legally; and throwing over the top to the back.
The lineout ends when the ball leaves it, a maul moves beyond it, or a player carries it out.
Rugby league has no lineouts — play restarts with a scrum or a tap.