Law 6: Match Officials

The referee is appointed by the match organiser.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1 · recall

Organiser first, then agreement between the teams; if they cannot agree, the home team appoints.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1 · applied

The referee appoints a replacement; if the referee cannot, the home team does.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.2 · applied

Clothing and studs against Law 4, and the availability and status of front-row players.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.4 · recall

The referee, alongside the other appointed match officials, is the sole judge of fact and law.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.5a · recall

The referee keeps the score; a time-keeper, if appointed, signals the end of each half.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.5b-c · recall

The whistle is blown to caution or send off, and a second time when the penalty or penalty try is awarded.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.8d · recall

The winner chooses to kick off or to choose an end; if they choose an end, the opponents kick off, and vice versa.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.3 · applied

Organiser; failing that the teams agree; failing that the home team.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1 · recall

The referee organises it; one captain tosses, the other calls.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.3 · recall

The ball is dead in touch, but not when a quick throw is permissible.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.9a · applied

The ball is dead when it hits anything above the playing area.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.9f · applied

The whistle marks a dead ball except after a failed conversion kick.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.8e · recall

If neither team gains an advantage, play continues.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.10 · applied

If either team gains an advantage in the field of play, a scrum goes to the team that last played the ball.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.10 · applied

With a defender in possession, the referee awards a touch down where the contact happened.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.11b · applied

The referee judges what would have happened next and awards a drop-out, a try or a touch down at that place.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.12 · applied

With an attacker in possession, the referee awards a try where the contact took place.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.11a · applied

The award is made at the place of contact.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.12 · recall

Contact, then the referee's judgement of advantage, then the scrum.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.10 · recall

There are two assistant referees or touch judges; if not appointed by the organiser, each team provides one.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.19 · recall

They stay in touch except when judging a kick at goal, when they stand in in-goal behind the posts.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.22, 6.25 · recall

The flag is held horizontally, pointing infield at right angles to the touchline.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.27b · recall

Only at the next stoppage in play and when the referee allows.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.23, 6.27c-d · recall

It is for the referee, not the assistant referee or touch judge, to decide.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.26d · recall

The referee may send a touch judge off and report to the match organiser, and may have an unsatisfactory one replaced.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.21 · applied

The TMO clarifies groundings, touch in the act of scoring, kicks at goal, infringements around a try, and foul play.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.15 · recall

A TMO appointed by the organiser uses technology to clarify the grounding of the ball in in-goal.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.15a, 6.16 · applied

Flag up, stand at the place of the throw pointing to the team entitled to throw, flag down when thrown in.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.26 · recall

The assistant keeps working until the stoppage, then reports at the referee's invitation.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.27 · recall

Up to two medics, one on either side, may follow play.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28a · recall

Medics can only carry and provide water to a player they are treating.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28b · recall

Medics cannot field or touch a ball in live play; sanction: penalty where play would restart.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28c · applied

Only when the referee makes play dead for a lengthy stoppage (injury, TMO review) or a try is scored.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-i · recall

At a penalty try no water carriers may enter the field.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-ii · recall

A water carrier must not be a head coach or director of rugby.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-v · recall

No additional person should approach or comment to the officials, except medics about their own player.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.30 · recall

The person carrying only a tee and one bottle for the kicker must be one of the two nominated water carriers.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29b · applied

The scoring side gets water near its own 10 m line; the carriers leave when the conversion is taken.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-i · recall

Additional persons stay in their technical area until permitted, and never field the live ball.

Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29d · recall