With our biggest ever 7s tournament just around the corner, every squad member should feel an obligation to acquaint themeselves fully with the differences in The Laws for Sevens.


The IRB has the Full Laws available to download in PDF form (all 182 pages) on their site - click here.


LAW 3: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
LAW 3(1)

Amend to read:
"A match shall be played by not more than seven players on each team."


LAW 3(2)

Amend to read:
"A player may be replaced only on account of injury."


LAW 3(3)

Amend to read:
"An injured player may be replaced on the advice of a medically trained person or the referee."


LAW 3(4)(a)

Amend to read:
"Not more than three players in each team may be replaced."


LAW 3(5)

Amend to read:
"A player who has been replaced may not resume playing in the match."

Follow up:

LAW 5: TOSS, TIME
LAW 5(1)

As written.


LAW 5(2)
Amend to read:

"The duration of play in all matches other than in a competition final shall not exceed fourteen minutes."


Note (i) - Delete


LAW 5(3)
Amend to read:

"Play shall be divided into two halves of seven minutes. At half-time the teams shall change ends and there shall be an interval of not more than one minute."


LAW 5(4)
Renumber as Law 5(8)


Note (ii) As written


Rewrite 5(4) as follows:

"The duration of play in a competition final shall not exceed twenty minutes. Play shall be divided into two halves of ten minutes. At half time the teams shall change ends and there shall be an interval of not more than two minutes."



Insert new sections:


LAW 5(5)

To read:
"Where there is a drawn match and extra time is required, the extra time shall be played in periods of five minutes. After each period the teams shall change ends without interval."


LAW 5(6)

To read:
"Before commencement of extra time the captains shall toss for the right to kick off or the choice of ends."


LAW 5(7)

To read:
"In extra time the team which scores first will immediately be declared the winner without further play."


LAW 13: KICK AT GOAL AFTER A TRY

LAW 13(1)
Amend to read:

"If the scoring team elects to take a kick at goal after a try it shall be a drop kick on a line through the place where the try was scored."


LAW 13(2)(a)
As written.


LAW 13(2)(b)

Delete.


LAW 13(2)(c)
Delete.


LAW 13(2)(d)

Delete


LAW 13(2)(e)
Renumber as (b) and amend to read:

"The opposing team must assemble immediately within reasonable proximity of its own 10 meters line."


LAW 13(3)
Delete


Penalty:

Amend 2nd pica dot to read
"For an infringement by the opposing team, if the kick has been taken successfully the goal shall stand. If it was unsuccessful the kicker may take another kick."


LAW 13(3)

Note (i) Amend to read:
"In addition to the general provision regarding waste of time, the kicker is bound to kick without delay, under penalty."


A player should not be permitted to be unreasonably slow in taking any kick at goal. A player who is unreasonably slow should be warned that if he persists in delaying, penalties will be applied.


Even without a caution if the delay is clearly time- wasting the kick should be disallowed and a kick-off ordered."


Note (ii) - As written.


Note (iii) - Delete.


Note (iv) - Renumber as (iii).


Note (v) - Delete.


Note (vi) - Delete.


Note (vii) - Delete.


Note (viii) - Renumber as (iv).


Note (ix) - Delete.


LAW 20: SCRUMMAGE

LAW 20(2)
Amend to read in the 2nd paragraph:

Delete "each front row" and insert "the players".


Notes (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) - as written.


LAW 20(3)
Amend to read:

"It is dangerous play for players to form down some distance from their opponents and rush against them to form a scrummage."


LAW 20(3)
Note (v) Amend to read:

"The referee should not call the players to engage until the ball is in the hands of the player putting in the ball into the scrummage and is available to be put in immediately. This call is not a command, but an indication that the players may engage when ready."


LAW 20(4)
"Three players from each team shall be required to form a front row which is a scrummage and shall remain bound until it ends. The head of a player in the scrummage shall not be next to the head of a player in the same team."



That was fun, wasn't it?