In rugby union, the kick used to restart play at the beginning of each half is the kick-off.
The kick-off begins the match and restarts the second half. It is taken from the centre of the halfway line by the team selected to kick under the match’s coin-toss arrangements. The ball must travel at least 10 metres toward the opponents’ side unless the receiving team plays it first.
After points are scored, play is restarted with a restart kick rather than a new kick-off in the strict opening-half sense. The team that conceded the points generally takes that restart, creating an immediate opportunity to contest possession.
A kick-off is not the same as a 22-metre drop-out or a penalty kick. Those kicks restart or resume play from different locations and follow different events. Kick-off technique is strategically important because teams compete for the landing ball in the aerial contest.