# Law 3: Team (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 3: Team · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-3-team/)

How many players and replacements a team may have, front-row cover and uncontested scrums, and replacements for injury.

## 3.31 Players and Replacements

Players on the field, objections to numbers, replacements, tactical returns and rolling replacements.

### Test 1: Players and replacements

- Each team has no more than 15 players in the playing area during play; organisers may authorise fewer. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.1-2)
- The captain is told to reduce the number, the score at the time stays and the sanction is a penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.3)
- Up to eight in internationals; in other matches the organiser decides, to a maximum of eight. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.4-5)
- Joining without permission to gain an advantage is misconduct; sanction penalty. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.7)
- Return is allowed only for an injured front-rower, a blood or head injury, an injury from foul play, the nominated-player cases, and in elite rugby a qualifying red card. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.33)
- Elite rugby only: after 20 minutes of playing time, unless the act was intentional and highly dangerous. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.33f; Law 9.30)
- Rolling tactical replacements may be used at defined levels; interchanges must not exceed 12. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.34)
- Replacements are made only when the ball is dead and only with the referee's permission. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.6)
- 8, 12 and 15. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.1, 3.4, 3.34)
- A replacement comes on only when the ball is dead and the referee allows it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.6)

## 3.32 Front Rows and Uncontested Scrums

Front-row players by squad size, declaring them, and when scrums become uncontested.

### Test 1: Front-row cover

- 15 or fewer: three front-rowers, with no replacement obligation. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)
- 16-18 players: four front-rowers, able to replace either a prop or a hooker the first time of asking. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)
- With 19 to 22 players the squad needs five front-rowers and must cover a prop and a hooker together. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)
- Elite match, only two front-row replacements: the squad is limited to 22. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.9)
- Teams name their front-rowers and front-row replacements and the positions each can play; only they may play there in contested scrums. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.10)
- A replacement front-row player may start the match in another position. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.11)
- It is a team's responsibility. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.12)
- A 23-player squad has six front-rowers and must be able to replace both props and the hooker. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)
- 3, 4, 5 and 6 front-row players. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)
- 1 is the loose-head prop, 2 the hooker, 3 the tight-head prop. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.8)

### Test 2: Uncontested scrums

- Scrums become uncontested if either team cannot field a suitably trained front row, or if the referee orders it. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.13)
- They must still be played with eight players per side. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.15)
- The referee enquires at the next scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.16)
- If the player returns or another front-row player comes on, contested scrums may resume. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.16)
- In elite rugby, or at the organiser's discretion, that player cannot be replaced. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.17)
- Only when no replacement front-row player is available. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.18)
- The team nominates another player to leave so a front-rower can come on; after a red card, that player may act as a replacement. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.20)
- The team nominates another player to leave; that player may not return until the suspension ends, or as a replacement. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.19)
- The referee enquires at the next scrum and orders uncontested scrums if told the team cannot contest. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.16)
- The nominated player may not return before the suspension ends, except as a replacement. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.19)

## 3.33 Injuries and Temporary Replacements

Permanent replacement, Recognise and Remove, blood injuries, HIA and temporary replacements.

### Test 1: Injuries and temporary replacements

- A player may be replaced if injured, and may not return once replaced. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.21)
- At national representative level it is the opinion of a doctor; the referee may also decide. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.22)
- If the player is not back within 15 minutes (actual time) of leaving, the replacement becomes permanent. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.25)
- The HIA limit is 12 minutes of actual time; after that the swap is permanent. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.27)
- Up to 5 minutes may be taken to stem the bleeding before the 12-minute HIA begins. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.27)
- The originally replaced player, if medically cleared, becomes a tactically replaced player who may return under Law 3.33. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.30)
- It becomes permanent unless the replaced player returns immediately at the start of the second half. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.32)
- Recognise and Remove: a concussed or suspected concussed player is immediately and permanently removed. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.24)
- 5, 12 and 15 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.25, 3.27)
- The player returns as soon as the bleeding is controlled or covered, within 15 minutes. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 3.25)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 3 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

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