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LAW: 3.5 THE FRONT ROW – REPLACEMENTS AND SUBSTITIONS

  • (a) It is the team’s responsibility to ensure that all front row players and potential front row replacements are suitably trained. It is not for the referee to determine whether any player is suitably trained to play in the front row.
  • (b) The table below indicates the minimum number of front row players by squad size and the minimum replacement obligations:
    15 or less—3 Minimum front row players in the squad
    16, 17 or 18—4 Minimum front row players in the squad— Either prop or hooker (Must be able to replace at the first time of asking)
    19, 20, 21 or 22—5 Minimum front row players in the squad - Either prop or hooker (Must be able to replace at the first time of asking)
    23 —6 Minimum front row players in the squad— Loose-head prop, tight-head prop and hooker (Must be able to replace at the first time of asking)

  • A Union may , having taken player welfare into account, amend the minimum number of front row players in the squad and the minimum replacement obligations at defined levels of the Game within its jurisdiction. Where the Union/match organiser has determined squad sizes of 23 and a team is only able to nominate two front row replacements, then that team may nominate only 22 players in their squad.

  • (c) Prior to the match, each team must advise the referee of their front row players and potential front row replacements and only these players may play in the front row when the scrum is contested.

  • (d) A replacement front row player may start the match in another position.