| 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). |
