# Law 6: Match Officials (World Rugby Laws of the Game)

Rugby · Law 6: Match Officials · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/laws/law-6-match-officials/)

Appointing and controlling the officials, the referee's duties, dead ball and contact with officials, assistant referees, the TMO, medics and water carriers.

## 6.61 The Referee

Appointment, the toss, the pre-match inspection, judging, timekeeping, the score and the whistle.

### Test 1: The referee

- The referee is appointed by the match organiser. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1)
- Organiser first, then agreement between the teams; if they cannot agree, the home team appoints. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1)
- The referee appoints a replacement; if the referee cannot, the home team does. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.2)
- Clothing and studs against Law 4, and the availability and status of front-row players. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.4)
- The referee, alongside the other appointed match officials, is the sole judge of fact and law. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.5a)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Organiser; failing that the teams agree; failing that the home team. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.1)
- The referee organises it; one captain tosses, the other calls. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.3)

## 6.62 Dead Ball and Non-players

When the ball is dead, and when the ball or ball-carrier touches the referee or another non-player.

### Test 1: Dead ball and non-players

- The ball is dead in touch, but not when a quick throw is permissible. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.9a)
- The ball is dead when it hits anything above the playing area. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.9f)
- The whistle marks a dead ball except after a failed conversion kick. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.8e)
- If neither team gains an advantage, play continues. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.10)
- 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)
- With a defender in possession, the referee awards a touch down where the contact happened. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.11b)
- 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)
- With an attacker in possession, the referee awards a try where the contact took place. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.11a)
- The award is made at the place of contact. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.12)
- Contact, then the referee's judgement of advantage, then the scrum. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.10)

## 6.63 Assistant Referees and the TMO

Touch judges and assistant referees, their positions and signals, and the television match official.

### Test 1: Assistant referees and the TMO

- 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)
- 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)
- The flag is held horizontally, pointing infield at right angles to the touchline. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.27b)
- Only at the next stoppage in play and when the referee allows. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.23, 6.27c-d)
- It is for the referee, not the assistant referee or touch judge, to decide. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.26d)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- The assistant keeps working until the stoppage, then reports at the referee's invitation. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.27)

## 6.64 Medics, Water Carriers and Others

Pitch-side medics, water carriers, the kicking tee, coaches and contact with officials.

### Test 1: Medics, water carriers and others

- Up to two medics, one on either side, may follow play. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28a)
- Medics can only carry and provide water to a player they are treating. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28b)
- Medics cannot field or touch a ball in live play; sanction: penalty where play would restart. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.28c)
- 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)
- At a penalty try no water carriers may enter the field. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-ii)
- A water carrier must not be a head coach or director of rugby. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29a-v)
- No additional person should approach or comment to the officials, except medics about their own player. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.30)
- 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)
- 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)
- Additional persons stay in their technical area until permitted, and never field the live ball. (Source: World Rugby Laws 2026, Law 6.29d)

Sources: World Rugby Laws of the Game, Rugby Union 2026, Law 6 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the law book, not reproduced)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral