diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/include-apply-insert-order.yaml b/changelogs/fragments/include-apply-insert-order.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b4b9d55bc0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/include-apply-insert-order.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+- include - Change order of where the new block is inserted with apply so that apply args are not applied to the include also (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/44912)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
index bef6ca65a36..057964752fd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
@@ -100,14 +100,16 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
             dep_chain = list(self._parent_role._parents)
             dep_chain.append(self._parent_role)
 
+        p_block = self.build_parent_block()
+
         blocks = actual_role.compile(play=myplay, dep_chain=dep_chain)
         for b in blocks:
-            b._parent = self
+            b._parent = p_block
 
         # updated available handlers in play
         handlers = actual_role.get_handler_blocks(play=myplay)
         for h in handlers:
-            h._parent = self
+            h._parent = p_block
         myplay.handlers = myplay.handlers + handlers
         return blocks, handlers
 
@@ -143,22 +145,11 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
             from_key = key.replace('_from', '')
             ir._from_files[from_key] = basename(ir.args.get(key))
 
-        apply_attrs = ir.args.pop('apply', {})
+        apply_attrs = ir.args.get('apply', {})
         if apply_attrs and ir.action != 'include_role':
             raise AnsibleParserError('Invalid options for %s: apply' % ir.action, obj=data)
-        elif apply_attrs:
-            apply_attrs['block'] = []
-            p_block = Block.load(
-                apply_attrs,
-                play=block._play,
-                parent_block=block,
-                role=role,
-                task_include=task_include,
-                use_handlers=block._use_handlers,
-                variable_manager=variable_manager,
-                loader=loader,
-            )
-            ir._parent = p_block
+        elif not isinstance(apply_attrs, dict):
+            raise AnsibleParserError('Expected a dict for apply but got %s instead' % type(apply_attrs), obj=data)
 
         # manual list as otherwise the options would set other task parameters we don't want.
         for option in my_arg_names.intersection(IncludeRole.OTHER_ARGS):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
index f4266d1b628..ba048311a1e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
@@ -69,22 +69,11 @@ class TaskInclude(Task):
         if not task.args.get('_raw_params'):
             task.args['_raw_params'] = task.args.pop('file')
 
-        apply_attrs = task.args.pop('apply', {})
+        apply_attrs = task.args.get('apply', {})
         if apply_attrs and task.action != 'include_tasks':
             raise AnsibleParserError('Invalid options for %s: apply' % task.action, obj=data)
-        elif apply_attrs:
-            apply_attrs['block'] = []
-            p_block = Block.load(
-                apply_attrs,
-                play=block._play,
-                parent_block=block,
-                role=role,
-                task_include=task_include,
-                use_handlers=block._use_handlers,
-                variable_manager=variable_manager,
-                loader=loader,
-            )
-            task._parent = p_block
+        elif not isinstance(apply_attrs, dict):
+            raise AnsibleParserError('Expected a dict for apply but got %s instead' % type(apply_attrs), obj=data)
 
         return task
 
@@ -115,3 +104,24 @@ class TaskInclude(Task):
                 del all_vars['when']
 
         return all_vars
+
+    def build_parent_block(self):
+        '''
+        This method is used to create the parent block for the included tasks
+        when ``apply`` is specified
+        '''
+        apply_attrs = self.args.pop('apply', {})
+        if apply_attrs:
+            apply_attrs['block'] = []
+            p_block = Block.load(
+                apply_attrs,
+                play=self._parent._play,
+                task_include=self,
+                role=self._role,
+                variable_manager=self._variable_manager,
+                loader=self._loader,
+            )
+        else:
+            p_block = self
+
+        return p_block
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
index b81518214ec..6d9f7779510 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/strategy/__init__.py
@@ -833,8 +833,7 @@ class StrategyBase:
             block_list = load_list_of_blocks(
                 data,
                 play=iterator._play,
-                parent_block=None,
-                task_include=ti_copy,
+                parent_block=ti_copy.build_parent_block(),
                 role=included_file._task._role,
                 use_handlers=is_handler,
                 loader=self._loader,
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml
index 8f71530268c..ca41b38df5f 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml
@@ -29,3 +29,17 @@
           - include_role_result is defined
       tags:
         - always
+
+    - include_role:
+        name: include_role2
+        apply:
+          tags:
+            - foo
+      tags:
+        - not_specified_on_purpose
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - include_role2_result is undefined
+      tags:
+        - always
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role2/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role2/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..028c30d517c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role2/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- set_fact:
+    include_role2_result: true