Match officials
World Rugby · 2026The referee, touch judges, assistants and television match official.
Referee and assistants
The referee controls the match, applies the laws, keeps score and oversees timekeeping. There are two touch judges or assistant referees, who signal touch, touch-in-goal and kicks at goal. Assistant referees also help as directed, including reporting foul play. The referee may consult them and can overrule their decisions.
Reviews and accidental contact
Organisers may appoint a television match official to review matters including grounding, touch during scoring, goal kicks, offences leading to or preventing tries, and foul play. Reviews follow the TMO protocol, not an unrestricted appeal by a player. If the ball or carrier touches the referee without advantage, play continues; advantage gained in the field of play produces a scrum for the team that last played the ball.
Sources & approach ↗