The six-tackle rule governs the normal end of a rugby league possession.
A team generally receives six consecutive tackles after gaining possession. If it has not scored, kicked the ball away, or lost possession earlier, the ball is handed to the opposition after the sixth tackle.
The system replaced an older unlimited-tackle approach in Australia. The New South Wales Rugby Football League introduced the six-tackle rule in 1971, and it became a defining feature of the modern game.
The rule encourages teams to balance attack and territory over a limited sequence. Officials count tackles continuously, although certain events, such as a change of possession or an infringement, can reset the count under the laws of the game.