The International Rugby Board will try new substitution methods
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that they will try out new substitution methods during matches in the November Tests.
New methods hope to mimic soccer protocol and simplify things for
match officials keeping tabs on substitutions and on-the-field line-ups, which can be a chaotic affair.
In particular, players being substituted will be required to have left the playing area (field of play and in-goal area) before substitutes step onto the field. After the necessary removals,
fresh players will step onto the field from the touch-line at the half-way line.
One important exception is in that of injured players—in which case substitutes are not required to wait until medical staff (if necessary) removes them and crosses the touch-line, touch-in-goal
line or dead-ball line.
Regulations regarding number of players teams can have on the field at any given time remain intact. A team's captain will be forced to eject a player and a referee will penalise a team should
they exceed the maximum of 15 players on field at any time.
“The area of substitution management is a critical element of the Game for the team of match officials,” IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset confirmed.
He justified the revisions: “The modern Game includes multiple substitutions and the aim of this protocol trial during the November Tests is to bring greater efficiency to the
procedure, making the area better for all involved in the Game.”
The November Tests involve the 24 top sides in the IRB Rankings that play in the end-of-the-year series. The series concludes after nine weeks of play.
Following the series, Unions and match officials will participate in a consultation process to offer feedback and criticism of the new provisions. At that point the IRB Council will decide whether new provisions will be integrated.
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