Player's Guide to IRL Wheelchair Rugby League Laws All Ages 2026

Only the player in possession can be tackled, and it is illegal to tackle or obstruct a player who does not have the ball. A player in possession is tackled when:

• Tags removed: a defender removes one or both tags. Two separate defenders may remove the tags at the same time, but a single defender may not remove both tags in one tackle, which is a penalty. Defenders must not delay tag removal to give their line extra time to set.
• Upright tackle: they can make no further progress and cannot part with the ball. The referee calls "held" and play restarts with a controlled restart play-the-ball.
• Ball raised or leaning back: while moving, they raise the ball above shoulder height or lean back in the chair so the defender cannot reach a tag. The referee calls "held" when progress stops.
• No tag: if the player receives the ball wearing one tag or none, a defender can tackle by clearly touching the arm area from the shoulder to the elbow with an open hand while calling "no tag".
• Surrender: the player raises both arms above shoulder height and a defender makes contact, or the player removes a tag from their lap before the tackle is complete. The referee calls "surrender" and play restarts with a controlled restart play-the-ball. Raising both arms deliberately to avoid being tackled in a disadvantageous position is a voluntary tackle and is penalised.

A tag collector wearing a bib may enter the field while their team has the ball to collect tags and to help re-seat a player. They only distribute tags at restarts.

• Tackle count: a team in possession gets five successive play-the-balls. A handover to the opposition occurs after the fifth tackle if the team is tackled a sixth time, so a team has six tackles. The referee signals the fifth tackle by raising one arm vertically with fingers and thumb outstretched, and the sixth by blowing the whistle (not to stop the game) as a signal that the ball has to be released.
• After the fifth tackle, a handover also occurs if the team in possession commits an accidental breach that would bring a controlled restart, a player is tackled in the opponent's in-goal, or the ball is kicked into touch on the full.
• Cancelling the count: intentionally touching the ball when it is not held by an opposing player cancels the count, and the next tackle is the first of six. A ricochet or rebound does not count as a touch.
• Zero tackle: after an accidental breach such as a knock-on or forward pass where possession changes, the next tackle is a zero tackle.
• Play-the-ball: the tackled player is released immediately and must, without delay, face the opponents' goal line with wheels parallel to the touch line and play the ball. Defenders disengage, and the tackled player is not touched until the ball is in play. You may not move a tackled player from where the tackle was made, and there is no stealing the ball.
• Controlled restart: this replaces the scrum of the running game. The referee lets the defending team set a defensive line and restarts the game by calling "Play".

• Try (4 points): scored when a player first grounds the ball with the hand or hands in the opponents' in-goal, provided their chair is not in touch, touch in-goal or on or over the dead ball line. Grounding on the goal line counts, because the goal lines are in-goal. Picking the ball up is not grounding it.
• Limited movement players: a player with limited movement can ground the ball by touching it anywhere on a pushing wheel, and only one pushing wheel needs to be in the in-goal.
• Conversion or penalty goal (2 points): the whole ball must pass over the crossbar on the full after being kicked by place kick or drop kick.
• Drop goal (1 point): a drop kick during play from anywhere in the field of play.
• Kick-off or drop-out: no goal can be scored directly from either.
• Leaning to score: you can lean forward to ground the ball as long as you are upright and in control of your chair. If a defender hits you while leaning and you fall forward, the try should be awarded if you were within reaching distance of the try line.
• Winner: the team with more points. If points are equal, or neither team scores, the game is drawn.

• Passing: you can throw or knock the ball in any direction other than towards your opponents' dead ball line. A forward pass is a throw towards the opponents' dead ball line. The direction of a pass is judged relative to the passer, so a ball thrown backwards from a moving player that travels forward over the ground is not a forward pass.
• Knock-on: knocking the ball towards the opponents' dead ball line with hand, arm or wheelchair while playing at it is a knock-on. A deliberate knock-on or forward pass is penalised. After an accidental one, play stops and a controlled restart play-the-ball goes to the other team, unless the player regains the ball or kicks it before it touches the ground, a goal post, the crossbar or an opponent.
• Heading: it is illegal to head the ball in a forward direction.
• Kicking: a kick means giving the ball controlled motion with any part of the arm, from forearm to hand, with a closed fist. Place kicks, drop kicks and punts are all made this way.
• Kicking tee: tees are allowed for starts of play, restarts after scoring and attempts at goal, and must be lower than the top of the pushing wheel.

• Length: a game is normally 80 minutes, with a 10 minute half time that may be extended or reduced. Teams change ends for the second half. The duration can be reduced by mutual agreement if the competition rules permit.
• Field: the minimum is 36 metres from goal line to goal line with a 2 metre in-goal, and 20 metres from touch line to touch line. For adult games the dimensions should be as near to the maximum shown in the Laws as possible.
• Goal posts: the crossbar is 2 metres off the ground and 3 metres wide, and the guidance sets a minimum post height of 4 metres.
• Ball: an oval ball, International Board size 4, deflated by 10% (8 to 9 psi).
• Officials: a Lead Referee and a Defensive Referee, working on opposite touch lines outside the field of play.

• Wheelchair: a designated sports wheelchair with bumpers and anti-tip wheels in place. The highest point of the seat platform, including any cushion, can be no more than 63 cm from the floor.
• Strapping: you must be strapped into your chair (lap, knees and feet), disability permitting, at all times during play.
• Wheels: you must stay upright and in control of the chair with both pushing wheels in contact with the ground, and you may not throw yourself forward to gain an advantage.
• Jersey: a numbered jersey of distinctive colour, with a Velcro patch on the top of each sleeve (80 mm by 50 mm).
• Tags: you wear two tags, one on each shoulder, at all times. Tags are 300 mm long and 50 mm wide, lie vertically down the arm, and must not clash with the colour of the sleeves. A team uses the same colour tags for all players, and the two teams must use different colours.
• Protective clothing: allowed if it contains nothing rigid or dangerous.
• Limited movement: a player with limited movement wears a distinctive, clearly visible armband.

Misconduct under the Laws includes:

• striking another player
• intentional, reckless or careless contact with an opponent's head or neck in a tackle
• touching, pushing, pulling, holding or grabbing an opponent's wheelchair at any time
• pushing, pulling, holding or grabbing an opponent's clothing or body, including a ball carrier trapping a tackler's hands or arms to stop tag removal
• driving in with both hands on the wheels, using the chair as a force and making no attempt to complete the tackle
• deliberately and continuously breaking the Laws, offensive or obscene language, disputing a referee's decision, or behaving contrary to the true spirit of the game
• deliberately obstructing an opponent who does not have the ball

If two players travel side by side near and towards the ball, it is permissible for their chairs to come into contact.

Guidance: a sin-binned player serves a five minute suspension and then returns. A dismissed player serves a ten minute suspension but cannot return to the field. A different player may return to the field to maintain the integrity of the match.

The International Rugby League (IRL) Board approved seven amendments on 30 March 2026, which took effect immediately:

1. A ninth player is allowed, similar to the 18th player in the running game, with rules on when they can be activated.
2. Half time is extended from five minutes to ten.
3. Defenders can no longer delay tag removal to give their defensive line time to set.
4. A ball carrier who traps a tackler's hands or arms to stop tag removal commits foul play.
5. A player who deliberately raises both arms above shoulder height to avoid a tackle in a disadvantageous position is penalised for a voluntary tackle.
6. The play-the-ball description no longer refers to the action as one continuous movement.
7. Conflicting references on minimum players were removed: if a team is reduced to fewer than three players for any reason, the game should be abandoned.