Teams and replacements
World Rugby · 2026Player numbers, replacements and the special treatment of head injuries.
Numbers and permission
The standard team has no more than 15 players on the field. Up to eight replacements may be nominated; organisers set the number outside internationals. Replacements need the referee’s permission and a dead ball. Contested scrums require suitably trained, experienced front-row players; otherwise the referee orders uncontested scrums, with additional restrictions on replacements.
Injury and temporary replacement
Suspected concussion requires immediate, permanent removal. The separate HIA procedure applies only in matches approved by World Rugby: its temporary replacement becomes permanent if the player is unavailable after 12 actual minutes. A blood-injury replacement becomes permanent if return is unavailable within 15 actual minutes. Tactical replacements may return only in specified exceptions, including certain front-row, blood or head-injury situations.
Sources & approach ↗