In rugby union, the defending team receives a 22-metre drop-out after grounding the ball in its own in-goal.
The restart is taken from anywhere on or behind the defending team’s 22-metre line. The ball must leave the 22-metre area, and opponents may challenge for possession once the kick is made. The restart gives the defending side a controlled way to resume play after preventing an attacking score.
A 22-metre drop-out can also follow several other situations, including the ball being made dead in the in-goal by an attacking player without a try being scored. The exact restart depends on how the ball became dead and which team was responsible.
This law is often confused with the older term “22-metre dropout” and with a goal-line drop-out. Modern World Rugby laws use “22-metre drop-out” for the restart from the 22-metre line, while goal-line drop-outs apply in specified different circumstances.