# Law 22: Sevens (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 22: Sevens · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-22-sevens/)

The sevens variations: team, time and officials, scoring and restarts, cards, lineouts and scrums.

## 22.221 Team, Time and Officials

Seven a side, five replacements, 7-minute halves, finals, extra-time and in-goal judges.

### Test 1: Team, time and officials

- Each team has no more than seven players in the playing area during play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 3.1)
- A team may nominate and use up to five replacements. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 3.4-5)
- 14 minutes in two halves of not more than seven minutes, plus time lost. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5.1)
- A competition final may last no longer than 20 minutes, plus lost time and extra-time. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5.1)
- Half-time consists of an interval not exceeding two minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5.2)
- After a one-minute break, periods of no more than five minutes, changing ends without an interval. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5.1)
- In extra-time, the team that scores points first is immediately declared the winner. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8.30)
- In-goal judges signal conversions, penalty kicks at goal and touch-in-goal; they are not needed when a TMO is used. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 6.31-37)
- 2, 5, 7 and 10 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5)
- A toss is held before extra-time, which ends at the first score. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 5.1, 6.3, 8.30)

## 22.222 Scoring and Restarts

Drop-kicked conversions and goals, 30-second limits, the scorer restarting, and drop-outs.

### Test 1: Scoring and restarts

- Within 30 seconds of playing time from the award of the try. Sanction: kick disallowed. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8.8c)
- All opposing players immediately assemble close to their own 10-metre line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8.14)
- In sevens, the kick at goal must be a drop-kick. Sanction: scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8.24)
- After a team has scored, the same team restarts with a drop-kick from the centre of half-way. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 12.4)
- Sevens prefers a free-kick here. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 12.6)
- The non-kicking team is awarded a free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 12.9)
- Apart from at a kick-off or restart, sevens restarts with a 22-metre drop-out here. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 12.11)
- In sevens a conversion must be a drop-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8.7)
- In sevens, the scoring team kicks off again. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 8, 12)
- 30 seconds, 60 seconds and 7 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 8.8c; Sevens Law 8.8c, 5.1)

## 22.223 Cards, Lineouts and Scrums

Two-minute yellow cards, 15-second lineouts and scrums, and three-player scrums.

### Test 1: Cards, lineouts and scrums

- In sevens a cautioned player is suspended for two minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 9.29)
- A second yellow-card offence means the player must be sent off. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 9.29)
- Within 15 seconds of the assistant referee or touch judge indicating the mark of touch. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 18.12)
- All three must stay bound to the scrum until it ends. Sanction: penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 19.5)
- A front-row player must not intentionally kick the ball out of the tunnel or scrum towards the opponents' line. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 19.23)
- The 50:22 applies in sevens too: the kicking team throws in. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 18.8)
- In sevens the sanction is a free-kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 12.5a)
- A sevens scrum must have three players from each team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 19.5)
- 2, 10 and 20 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Sevens Law 9.29; Law 9.29-30)
- Sevens lineouts form within 15 seconds. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law variations - Sevens, Law 18.12)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 22 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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