Rugby union is one of the few ball games where the ball can only travel backwards.

So that means the ball cannot be passed forwards at anytime.

And that includes if you accidentally knock the ball forwards with your hands or arm when you fumble the ball.

No excuses in this game.

So if you do knock the ball on forwards, the referee will stop play and award a scrum to the other team.

Ruck

Maul

Knock on

Forward pass

22m drop out

5m scrum

Mark

Tackle

Obstruction

Sin-bin