Laws of the Game
Laws of the Game
Laws of the Game Exam Foreword Playing Charter Definitions Laws by number Variations - 7s, 10s, u19, Game On Match official signals Law application guidelines Law Clarifications Modified forms - T1, XRugby, Beach, Touch, Tag What's new?
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Law application guidelines

Head Contact Process - 1 November 2026
Dangerous tackles - October 2026
Maul - June 2026
Implementation of the 20minute red card replacement in elite rugby - August 2025
Shape of the Game: Reinforcement of current law - March 2024
Head Contact Process - 9th March 2023
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
Side entry - July 2022
Law changes summary - July 2022
Enforcement of current law - refereeing at the breakdown - March 2020
Uncontested Scrums - March 2020
Head Contact Process - March 2021
Decision-making framework for high tackles - May 2019
Enforcement of current Law - October 2018
Uncontested Scrums - December 2017
The maul - January/June 2016
Enforcement of current Law - May 2015
Offside at the ruck - May 2014
Enforcement of current Law - June 2012
Five key areas of refereeing June 2012
Dangerous tackles (high tackles) - February 2011
Charging into the ruck - February 2010
IRB Maul Working Group Outcomes - August 2009

Head Contact Process - 1 November 2026

Download the full guideline as a PDF - (This replaces the 2023 version) 2611EN HCP Graphic

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English (en) Afrikaans (af) العربيّة (ar) 中文 (zh-cn) Français (fr) Deutsch (de) Italiano (it) 日本語 (ja) Portugués (BR) (pt-br) Polski (pl) Româna (ro) Русский (ru) Español (es)

Law application guidelines

Head Contact Process - 1 November 2026
Dangerous tackles - October 2026
Maul - June 2026
Implementation of the 20minute red card replacement in elite rugby - August 2025
Shape of the Game: Reinforcement of current law - March 2024
Head Contact Process - 9th March 2023
Law Application Guideline - January 2023
Side entry - July 2022
Law changes summary - July 2022
Enforcement of current law - refereeing at the breakdown - March 2020
Uncontested Scrums - March 2020
Head Contact Process - March 2021
Decision-making framework for high tackles - May 2019
Enforcement of current Law - October 2018
Uncontested Scrums - December 2017
The maul - January/June 2016
Enforcement of current Law - May 2015
Offside at the ruck - May 2014
Enforcement of current Law - June 2012
Five key areas of refereeing June 2012
Dangerous tackles (high tackles) - February 2011
Charging into the ruck - February 2010
IRB Maul Working Group Outcomes - August 2009

Laws of the Game
Laws of the Game Exam
Foreword
Playing Charter
Definitions
Laws by number
Variations - 7s, 10s, u19, Game On
Match official signals
Law application guidelines
Law Clarifications
Modified forms - T1, XRugby, Beach, Touch, Tag
What's new?

World Rugby Passport
World Rugby
News and Updates
Player Welfare / Medical
Injury Prevention and Risk Management
Coaching
Officiating
Laws of the Game
Conditioning for Rugby
Match Day Staff
Protect the Game
Player Eligibility
Training and Education Workforce Information
Administrators Academy
Rugby Agents
Safeguarding
Qualification Equivalency
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