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142 results returned for union
Foul Play
These five questions will all relate to foul play in rugby union.
Foreword
e and content of this programme should be determined by each union, depending on the unique characteristics of the playing environment within that union. ... d correctly and fairly. Rugby union is a sport which involves physical contact and, as such, present ... s, clubs, other affiliated bodies, coaches and players. Each union should create a pathwa
Law Clarifications
If a World Rugby member union is unable to clarify an aspect of law it may submit a request for a formal clarification in law to the World Rugby designated members. This section contains all such requests for clarifications issued since 2018 when the laws of rugby were restructured and simplified. On occasions, clarifications in law will result in a law amendment. The pre-201
Laws of the Game Exam
This self-check multiple-choice exam is a pre-requisite for many World Rugby and union-specific educational courses for referees, coaches, and match management staff. After completing the Laws exam, which has 60 questions to answer, you can download your personalised certificate. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes. We suggest you use the Laws site to help you to complet
Laws of the Game Exam 2025
The World Rugby Law exam was refreshed in April 2026. Please click here to find the new version This self-check multiple-choice exam is a pre-requisite for many World Rugby and union-specific educational courses for referees, coaches, and match management staff. After completing the Laws exam, you can download your personalised certificate. Registration is free and takes onl
Definitions
y, a union, a group of unions or any organisation approved by a union or World Rugby. Maul A phas ... d to the jersey or shorts. Union A body, approved by World Rugby, responsible for the organising and playin
Playing Charter
A game which started out as a simple pastime has been transformed into a global network around which vast stadia have been built, an intricate administrative structure created and complex strategies devised. Rugby union, in common with any activity which attracts the interest and enthusiasm of all kinds of people, has many sides and faces. Rugby is played worldwide by people of all ages fro
General play
These 20 questions will all relate to general play in rugby union - Advantage, scoring, offside in open play, knock and throw forwards, players on the ground in open play, the mark, touch, penalties, free kicks and in-goal.
2026-11 Law change - Hip drop tackles
t this appearing in rugby union and considered that they have been banned in both American football and rugby league. The Tackle Working Group recommended explicitly banning the action in rugby unio
2026-07 Law updates
k with your Union to determine implementation dates.
1 The ground
s to these dimensions must be approved by the relevant union for domestic competitions or World Rugb
Maul - June 2026
Applicable for new competitions from 1 June 2026 (opening of international window ahead of Nations Cup/Championships.) Key messages The maul is a key contest for possession in rugby union in which both the attack and defence must comply with the law. Players must joi ... p; The maul (including those formed at a lineout) continues to be a key contestable area of rugby unio
3 Team
4 For international matches, a union may nominate up to eight replacements. 3.5 For other matches, the matc
Uncontested Scrums - December 2017
3 players, or at the discretion of the Union/match organiser, a player whose departure has cause
19 Scrum
t of the scrum when it is not. Sanction: Free-kick. Scrum law variations 19.39 A union may implemen
Touch Rugby
l must win it, and neither team is allowed to push. Union This is the controlling body under whos
Tag Rugby
y is awarded. Union This is the controlling body under whose jurisdiction the match is playe
Clarification 1-2013
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 1-2013 Union / HP Ref Manager IRFU Law Reference 9 Date 2013-09-13 Request The Irish Rugby Football Union has requested clarification that apart from a kicking tee no other item or implement may be used. Law 9.B. ... g tee approved by the Union. There have been instances where the kicker has used another marke
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. Clarificatio ... l circumstances a Union may authorise matches to be played with fewer than seven players in each team. Whe
Clarification 2-2003
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 2-2003 Union / HP Ref Manager SRU Law Reference 3 Date 2003-06-07 Request SRU has requested a ruling with regard to La ... h. It is the responsibility of the Union to authorise any sanctions with regard to non-compliance prio ... d scrums. There are no sanctions during the match. A Union may apply sanctions in accordance with it
Clarification 1-2002
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 1-2002 Union / HP Ref Manager SRU Law Reference 3 Date 2002-03-20 Request Following correspondence from the Scottish Rugby Union which requested clarification relating to Law 3 10(a); 10 TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT (a) When a player leaves the field to have bleeding controlled and/or have an open wound covered, that player ma
Clarification 8-2002
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 8-2002 Union / HP Ref Manager Rugby Canada Law Reference 20 Date 2002-10-29 Request The Canadian Rugby Union has requested a Ruling with regard to the following question: "At the Canadian Women's Championships in Winnipeg a Canadian lock forward was allowed to bind in the right lock position with proper binding u
Clarification 5-2003
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 5-2003 Union / HP Ref Manager ARU Law Reference 3 Date 2003-06-27 This has been superseded by Law Amendment in 2004. Request Australian Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard to Law 3.5 (d): This Law states: "When 19, 20, 21 or 22 players are nominated in a team there must be sufficient front row players to pla
Clarification 1-2006
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 1-2006 Union / HP Ref Manager FFR Law Reference 13,18 Date 2006-01-10 Request In the definition of Law 18 Mark, it stipulates that a mark cannot be made from a kick off. This implies that it may be made from a restart. However a restart may be kicked from the half way line after a score. Is it possible to harmonis
Clarification 9-2009
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 9-2009 Union / HP Ref Manager IRFU Law Reference 19 Date 2009-11-11 Request The IRFU request a Ruling related to the lineout. Do the provisions of Law 19.8 (i) apply to Law 19.11 Exception 2? Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee The provisions of Law 19.8(i) do apply to Exception 2 in Law 19.11 whic
Clarification 9-2002
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 9-2002 Union / HP Ref Manager Dutch Rugby Union Law Reference 19 Date 2002-11-15 This clarification was incorporated into law in 2009 Request The Dutch Rugby Union has requested a ruling with regard to the following: We have a question connected with your recent rulings of 23rd July and 5th September relate
Clarification 2-2008
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 2-2008 Union / HP Re ... s where teams are comprised of 19, 20, 21 or 22 players. The Australian Rugby Union seeks a rulin ... t replacements and 3.10 which permits temporary replacements. The Union having jurisdiction over a matc ... T NOT commence with contested scrums. It is up to the Union having jurisdiction over the match or the matc
1 The ground
GAME-ON 1.3 [Replacement] 1.3 The dimensions of the playing area are shown in the ground diagram. a. The playing area is rectangular in shape. b. Any variations to these dimensions must be approved by the relevant union for domestic competitions or World Rugby for international matches. c. Where the length of the field of play is less than 100 metres, the distance between the 10-metr
Clarification 7-2003
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 7-2003 Union / HP Ref Manager UAR Law Reference 10,19 Date 2003-07-03 Request UAR has requested a ruling with regard to Law 10.2 (c) & 19.1 (d): A player inside the field hits the ball that has been kicked by an opponent with the head with the purpose of making the ball go outside the field. Should a penalty be awarde
Clarification 5-2004
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 5-2004 Union / HP Ref Manager ARU Law Reference 19 Date 2004-06-04 Request The ARU has requested a ruling with regard Law 19-Touch and Line-out (1) If the receiver of the throwing team does not run into the gap, what are the options of the non-throwing receiver? Can he run into the gap and perform any of the action
Clarification 5-2006
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 5-2006 Union / HP Ref Manager FFR Law Reference 4 Date 2006-11-14 Request Please provide a definition of jersey, shorts and underwear. Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee 1. Jersey: a close fitting shirt worn on the upper half of the body which is not attached to shorts or underwear. 2. Short
Clarification 1-2007
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 1-2007 Union / HP Ref Manager RFU Law Reference 20 Date 2007-02-17 Request In the letter dated 29 November, it was stated that this amendment would apply at all levels of the game. There has been some confusion within the game in England as to whether the new Law 20.1(h) applies to Age Grade Rugby in plac
Clarification 3-2007
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 3-2007 Union / HP Ref Manager GRU Law Reference 16 Date 2007-10-01 Request 1. A ruck is formed and the ball is playable for Team A. All players in Team B now leave the ruck and step back. Is there still a ruck or has the ruck ended? Ruling of the designated members of the Rugby Committee A ruck ends successfully whe
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 7-2002
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 7-2002 Union / HP Ref Manager FPR Law Reference 13 Date 2002-10-01 Request The FPR (Portuguese Rugby Union) has requested a ruling with regard to the following question: According to Law 13.9, if the ball goes directly into touch at the kick-off (or restart kick), the opposing team has 3 choices: • to have the bal
Clarification 11-2003
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 11-2003 Union / HP Ref Manager NZRU Law Reference 15,17 Date 2003-07-24 Request NZRFU has requested a ruling with regard to Law 15 Tackle and Law 17 Maul: The NZRFU is in receipt of Ruling 3:2003. The Union seeks further clarification on the interpretation implicit in Ruling 3. In order to bring further clarity to wha
Clarification 6-2005
Ruling in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 6-2005 Union / HP Ref Manager ARU Law Reference 3 Date 2005-09-30 Request The ARU has requested a ruling with regard Law 3-Number of Players On August 15, 2005 the IRB sent out a Law Ruling in response to a request from the Australian Rugby Union in relation to two scenarios relating to Law 3 -Numbers of Players. The AR
Clarification 2-2015
Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee Clarification 2-2015 Union / HP Ref Manager Paddy O'Brien Law Reference 10,19 Date 2015-03-02 Request The following clip shows the action of a team throwing a player forward after he has been supported in the air to receiv ... 3: "Rugby Union is a sport which involves physical contact. Any sport involving physical contact ha
3 Team
Sevens 3.1 [Replacement] 3.1 Each team has no more than 15 players in the playing area during play. Replaced by: 3.1 Each team has no more than seven players in the playing area during play. 3.2 deleted 3.4 [Replacement] 3.4 For international matches, a union may nominate up to eight replacements. Replaced by: 3.4 A team may nominate and use up to five replacement
3 Team
10s 3.1 [Replacement] 3.1 Each team has no more than 15 players in the playing area during play. Replaced by: 3.1 Each team has no more than 10 players in the playing area during play. 3.2 deleted 3.4 [Replacement] 3.4 For international matches, a union may nominate up to eight replacements. Replaced by: 3.4 A team may nominate up to five replacements. 3.