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100 results returned for match officials
2026-11 Law change - Hip drop tackles
k will be done ahead of 1 November in terms of match official decision-making and judicial sanctions.&nbs
12 Kick-off and restart kicks
Principle Kick-offs are used to start each half of the match or period of extra-time. Restart kicks are used to resume play. 12.1 All kick-offs and restart kicks are drop kicks. Sanction: The non-kicking team has the option of the kick being retaken or a scrum. Kick-off Kick-off ... 3 The opponents of the team who kicked off the match start the second half. 12.4 After a team has score
Shape of the Game: Reinforcement of current law - March 2024
s, coaches and match officials. In addition to this guideline, further work on the laws of the gam ... t. Subsequently, match officials are asked to call “Use it” sooner that we are currently seein ... e with the definition, during the “Crouch” and “Bind” phase, match officials must be able to see both hookers’ brak
2025-01 - Global Law Trials
s with examples for players, coaches, match officials. ... l laws content . Timings Rationale: Shorter stoppages in play Conversio
9 Foul play
l with arm or hand from the playing area. Sanction: Penalty. c. Do anything that may lead the match officials to consider that an opponent has committed an infringement. Sanction: Penalty. d. Wast ... r will take no further part in the match. A player sent off may not be replaced. Elite Rugby onl
2024-07 Law changes
n For a presentation on the new laws with examples for players, coaches, match officials, click here ... t on 1 July 2024. From that date, they will be reflected in World Rugby's digital law content. &nbs
XRugby
r of players during a match at any time. Players entering the field of play must do so at the half-way lin
Maul - June 2026
d drive match official decision-making. A player on the outside of the maul should have joined legall
5 Time
GAME-ON 5.3 [Replacement] 5.3 In non-international matches, the match organiser may decide to reduce the length of a match. If the match organiser does not decide, the teams agree on the length of a match. If they cannot agree, the referee decides. Replaced by: 5.3 Games should last a minimum of 40 minutes, but can be split into equal halves, quarters or thirds.
5 Time
Under-19 5.1 [Replacement] 5.1 A match lasts no longer than 80 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 40 minutes plus time lost), unless the match organiser has authorised the playing of extra-time in a drawn match within a knock-out competition. Replaced by: 5.1 A match lasts 70 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 35 minutes) plus time lost. No extr
18 Touch, quick throw and lineout
GAME-ON Addition: Match organisers may determine that teams should not lift and/or contest in the lineout
Red card
The card is shown to a player to indicate that the player has been permanently excluded from the match
5 Time
g 15 minutes as decided by the match organiser. During this time, the teams and match officials ma ... 10s 5.1 [Replacement] 5.1 A match lasts no longer than 80 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 40 minutes plus time lost), unless the match organiser has authorised the playing of extra-time in a drawn match within a knock-out competition. Replaced by: 5.1 A match last
5 Time
l not exceeding 15 minutes as decided by the match organiser. During this time, the teams and match official ... Sevens 5.1 [Replacement] 5.1 A match lasts no longer than 80 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 40 minutes plus time lost), unless the match organiser has authorised the playing of extra-time in a drawn match within a knock-out competition. Replaced by: 5.1 A matc
3 Team
GAME-ON 3.2 [Replacement] 3.2 A match organiser may authorise matches to be played with fewer than 15 players in each team. Replaced by: 3.2 A match organiser may authorise matche ... t of the match, in the event that either team cannot field a suitably trained front row or if the referee so orders, scrums must be uncontested 3.14 [Replacement] 3.14 A match organiser may stipulat
Clarification 2-2003
r to the commencement of the match for ensuring teams comply with Law 3.5? (2) What is the sanction if they do not comply? (3) During the match, if a team fails to comply with Law 3.5, what is the sanctio ... e to ensure that prior to a match they can comply with Law 3.5. (2) It is the responsibility of the team and team management to ensure that a team is able to comply with Law 3.5 prior to the matc
19 Scrum
GAME-ON Addition: 19.40 Match organisers can reduce the numbers in a contested scrum (subject to law 19.6), apply the under-19 variation of 1.5m maximum push, or implement uncontested scrums
Clarification 4-2015
6 – Match Officials. Following the controversy after a match in the Argentine National Clubs Championship ... e for the end of the match and then deciding to continue it, we would like a clarification in Law. Scenari ... e and then blows again to indicate clearly the end of the match with the score 18-19. The assistant refere ... t of the match with a penalty kick that is converted to goal and the referee blows the en
Clarification 2-2008
y with the requirements of Law 3.5 (a) or (c), either at the beginning of the match or during a match (thus causing no ... g the match. [Therefore, in effect limiting the team to a maximum of 15 players]? b) Can the opposin ... y with Law 3.5 causes the stoppage in play? c) Can the match commence with non-contested scrums or shoul ... s to play in the front row (either at the start of a match or during a match). ARU is also strongl
Clarification 5-2009
h officials for their substituted hooker to rejoin the match in an attempt to bring their playing numbers back to 15. The match officials refuse to allow the player to rejoin the match, which conclude ... f Manager RFU Law Reference 3 Date 2009-08-10 Request Senario Early in a match Team A replace their Tight Head Prop, due to injury, with their nominated prop forward replacement. Late in the matc
Clarification 2-2012
n for the following: Law 3.11(b) A player who leaves a match because of injury or any other reason must not rejoin the match until the referee permits the player to return. The referee must not let a playe ... s of the Rugby Committee Law 3.11(b) states that “A player who leaves a match because of injury or any other reason must not rejoin the match until the referee permits the player to return. The refere
Clarification 2-2004
w replacements only amongst those players on the bench at the beginning of the match or can those front row replacements come also only from the players starting the match as opposed to bench replacement ... d and experienced front row replacements even coming only from the players who started the match. E.g. 4 players among those who start the match if the list includes 16, 17 or 18 players. 2. A playe
3 Team
5 [Replacement] 3.5 For other matches, the match organiser decides how many replacements may be nominated, up to a maximum of eight. Replaced by: 3.5 Match organisers may vary the numbe ... y replace any number of players during a match at any time. Players entering the field of play must do s
Clarification 1-2015
d of the match, we would like a clarification in Law. Scenario 1 A try is scored in the last minute of a gam ... e for the end of the match, when the clock shows 80 (i.e. 40 minutes)? There are a set of Law variation ... k or take the kick with time remaining, a restart will occur and the match will end at the next stoppag ... y Committee Scenario 1 A team scoring a try near the end of the match may take the conversion kic
Clarification 3-2009
m and setting it up, there is the siren indicating the end of the match (real playing time). 3. The refere ... e to blow for the end of the match? For an “identical” situation for a lineout in the facts chronolog ... r the lineout has been formed, there is the siren indicating the end of the match (real playing tim ... d of the match? Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee Situation 1 Despite the Referee bein
Clarification 1-2016
6 Request Following controversy after the Wales v England match at the Paris Sevens Padd ... d and has had to be reformed in accordance with Law 20.4 (g) and therefore the match would continu ... s the match as there has been an offence that ensures that the ball is dead after the lineout has been completed and therefore the match ends in accordance with Law 5.7 (e). I would like to ask the curren
3 Team
s. 3.5 [Replacement] 3.5 For other matches, the match organiser decides how many replacements may be nominated, up to a maximum of eight. Replaced by: 3.5 The match organiser decides ho
8 Scoring
p; Sanction: Kick is disallowed. Replaced by: a. If stipulated by the match organiser, take
Clarification 2-2026
y. The laws highlighted focus on the contest for possession. ;Match officials must appl ... k do appear to contravene the pure law wordings, there is no material offence caused and so match officials are ensuring match continuity. We would remind match officials that this should onl
Clarification 8-2015
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 8-2015 Union / HP Ref Manager Paddy O'Brien Law Reference 3 Date 2015-12-08 Request Paddy O’Brien has requested clarification on the minimum number of players needed to start a sevens match. Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee The designated members have agreed that in exceptiona
Clarification 2-2010
e at the end of a match: The request for a Ruling arises from the ending of two recent international matche ... n that it is to be the “last play” of the match. If the ball is kicked directly out on the full from the restar ... 9 respectively and the match continues until the ball next becomes dead.
Clarification 2-2023
d about then asking match officials to differentiate between a stabilising action and a propellin ... m” and gaining a height advantage. Safety: Any attempt by the defender to match the ball carrier’ ... r, recognising that they are making these decisions in live match speed without the benefit of slo
14 Tackle
GAME-ON Additions: 14: Match organisers can choose whether to set a tackle height of the waist or to the base of the sternum line. They may also choose to sanction ball-carriers who drop their body height into a tackle and/or apply restrictions to teams who make double-tackles. Ball carriers A ball carrier in open play must not lower their height significantly before makin
Clarification 1-2017
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 1-2017 Union / HP Ref Manager Alain Rolland Law Reference 19 Date 2017-06-01 Request Alain Rolland, World Rugby High Performance 15s Match Official Manager seeks clarification on the interpretation of Law 19 especially in relation to: Bringing the 22m line in line with the clarification (clarification 5 from 201
Clarification 2-2025
n of the South Africa v Italy match played in Gqeberha, specifically the kick-off that initiated the gam ... l unintentionally fails to go 10m or a player overruns their teammate at the kick-off/restart. However, if match officials believe this is done deliberately, then Law 9.7a should be applied.
Clarification 4-2018
l application of this clarification will require Match Officials and medical teams to be in clos ... m or Match Day Dr calls for the Immediate Care team then play should be stopped immediatel
Clarification 3-2006
s availability scenario. Does the referee have to start the match with uncontested scrums? Rulin ... s not apply to locks in senior or U19 law. 2. The referee does not have to start the matc
Clarification 1-2011
n front row replacements.” This request arises from the England v France match earlier this year. Hendr ... d earlier in the game. The view of our Laws Sub-committee is that, even though the matc
Clarification 4-2003
n that a replacement player must be able to play in the position in a manner that ensures that the matc ... t be able to play in the position in a manner which ensures that the match can continue safel ... y the result of a match and/or the points awarded in relation thereto, and to impose such other punishmen
Clarification 2-2007
t a player rejoin the match until the ball is dead. The ball is dead when the ball is out of pla