Team

Sets how many players each team fields, and how replacements and substitutions work.

What it says

A team fields 15 players in full XVs rugby, with a limited number of replacements permitted from the bench depending on the level of competition. Front-row replacements have specific minimum requirements, since scrums need suitably trained players in those positions for safety reasons.

Why it exists

Limiting squad size and replacements keeps the contest fair and prevents teams from simply rotating in fresh legs indefinitely. The stricter front-row rules exist purely for safety, since an undertrained or fatigued front-row player in a scrum is a real injury risk to everyone bound in with them.

In practice

Replacements typically come on for tactical reasons, like fresh legs late in the game, or for injury. If a team can't field enough front-row specialists due to injury or cards, scrums may have to go uncontested, which changes how that phase of the game is played for the rest of the match.

Common confusions

A red card doesn't necessarily mean a team plays permanently down a player in every competition. Some formats allow a replacement for the carded player after a set period of time, though the sanctioned player themselves doesn't return. This is a relatively recent change that trips up fans used to older rules.

Last checked against the official law book: 2026-08-24