The gain line, in

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

, is an imaginary line (parallel to the halfway line) drawn across the pitch at the point where there is a breakdown in open play, such as a ruck, maul or

scrum Scrum may refer to: Sport * Scrum (rugby), a method of restarting play in rugby union and rugby league ** Scrum (rugby union), scrum in rugby union * Scrum, an offensive melee formation in Japanese game Bo-taoshi Media and popular culture * M ...

. Advancing across the gain line represents a gain in territory. Playing "beyond the gain line" is a common phrase coaches use to teach their players the fundamental goal of rugby (gaining space while maintaining possession of the ball).

References

Rugby union terminology {{Rugbyunion-stub