World Rugby Clarification 8 of 2015 – Law Reference 3 – Sevens Variations

Clarification in Law by the Designated Members of Rugby Committee
Clarification 8 – 2015
Union Paddy O’Brien – HP Sevens Referee Manager
Law Reference 3 – Sevens Variations
Date December 8, 2015
Request: Paddy O’Brien has requested clarification on the minimum number of players needed to start a sevens match.
Clarification of the Designated Members of the Rugby Committee
The designated members have agreed that in exceptional circumstances a Union may authorise matches to be played with fewer than seven players in each team. When that happens, all the Laws of the Game apply except that each team must have a minimum of five players on the pitch (at least three players in the scrum at all times and a minimum of two backs).