Law QuickRef

Wellington Rugby Football 

All WRFU Games: 2 x 40 minute halves, 5 minute halftime

College Sport Wellington

all CSW Boys Grades: 2 x 35 minute halves 5 minute halftime 

CSW U18 Girls Grades: 2 x 30 minute halves 5 minute halftime 

CSW U15 Girls Grades: 2 x 25 minute halves 5 minute halftime

Wellington Junior Rugby

Year 1 & 2 Grades: 2 x 20 minute halves, 5 minute halftime

Year 3, 4, 5, 6 Grades: 2 x 25 minute halves, 5 minute halftime

Year 7 & 8 Grades: 2 x 30 minute halves, 5 minute halftime

WRFU Game On Durations

If no agreement between teams in a WRFU grade then the following match durations apply
  Team Size Game Duration

  10 40 minutes (2 x 20)
  11 50 minutes (2 x 25)
  12 60 minutes (2 x 30)
  13-14 70 minutes (2 x 35)
  15 80 minutes (2 x 40)

(Law Reference - WRFU By-Laws Game On Checklist)

CSW Game On Durations

If no agreement between teams in a College Sport Wellington grade then the following match durations apply. 

Team Size Game Duration

  10 40 minutes (2 x 20)
  11 50 minutes (2 x 25)
  12-13 60 minutes (2 x 30)
  14-15 70 minutes (2 x 35)

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington Rugby Handbook 12.vi.6)

The following are the special playing conditions for College Sport Wellington Girls

U18 Girls Premier 1 and 2

1. The competition is 15 aside for Premier 1 and 10 aside for Premier 2. 

2. The maximum numbers of players that can present for a game is 22.

3. There is unlimited interchange, but only at a stoppage in play and in consultation with the referee.

4. Scrums are to be contested in Premier 1 only; push is limited to 0.5 metre maximum in accordance with DSLV.

5. Games shall be of 2 x 30 minute halves, with 5 minute half time. 

U15 Girls

1. The competition is 10 aside. However if teams playing each other have enough to play with more (ie 12 or 15- a-side) than they should endeavour to do so.

2. The minimum numbers of players required to constitute a team is 8 and the maximum who can present to play in any one game is 20.

3. There is unlimited interchange, but only at a stoppage in play when that team is in possession of the ball and in consultation with the referee.

4. All scrums are to be uncontested

5. There is no lifting in lineouts.

6. Games shall be of 2 x 25-minute halves, with 5-minute half time 

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington Rugby Handbook Pages 26-27)

The following are grades or conditions where rolling unlimited interchange of replacements from the match day team are permitted.

• WRFU Reserve Grade

• WRFU Presidents Grade

• CSW Girls Under 18 Premier 1 and 2

• CSW Girls Under 15

• All WRFU Junior Rugby

• All Game On matches, unless the teams agree that rolling replacements will not be used. 

The College Sport Wellington Minimum Playing Time (Half Game Rule) applies to:

• all CSW Rugby Boys age grades (currently Under 15). 

• all CSW Rugby Boys weight grades (currently U55kg, U65kg, U85Kg).

• CSW Rugby Girls Under 15 grades.

In these grades, all players in a named squad are required to play half of a game. 

A player may have their time spread across the four quarters rather than just one half. i.e. play the 1st and 4th Quarter. The Referee will blow his whistle as close to quarter or three-quarter time when there is a stoppage in play. Teams will be allowed one minute to make replacements. There is to be no team huddle, rather the coach/manager will send players on from the technical zone behind the posts.  Play will resume from where the last stoppage was at quarter or three-quarter time

There are no rolling replacements in the Boys grades outside of the above stoppages. There are rolling replacements in the Girls Grades.

It is NOT the referee’s job to ensure all players get half a game.

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington Rugby Handbook items 13 and 26)

The Half Game Rule does not apply to:

• CSW Rugby Boys Premier Grades (Premiership, Premier 2-4).

• CSW Rugby Girls Under 18 Premier Grades (Under 18 Premier 1 and Premier 2).

In all College Sport Wellington matches:

•  all Coaches, Managers and Reserves must remain behind the dead ball line during matches. This includes water carriers. 

• The only person from the team allowed on the sideline is the clearly identified team medic and the Referee appointed touch judges.

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington Rugby Handbook item 20ii)

In WRFU Premier Men and Premier 2 Men’s matches held on Club #1 grounds, as well as Under 21 matches when they serve as the curtain-raiser:

• Reserves and Team Management must remain:

  • In the designated marked technical zone, or

  • If no technical zone is marked, teams must position themselves between the 10-metre and halfway lines on the same side of the field , or

  • Behind the dead ball line if no marked or unmarked technical zone is available

• Coaches may stand in front of the rope/fence behind the dead ball line.

• Water Carriers – Each team may designate two Water Carriers, who must wear the WRFU ‘Water’ vest

  • They may only enter the field when the referee signals time off or during halftime

  • At all other times, Water Carriers must remain in their team’s technical zone

• Medics – Each team is allowed two designated Medics, who must wear the official WRFU ‘Medic’ vest 

  • Medics may only enter the field to attend to injuries and must otherwise remain in the technical zone behind the rope/fence

  • A Club may seek approval from the WRFU for one Medic to roam along the sideline if they provide proof of a medical qualification. 

(Law Reference -WRFU Sideline Management Policy )

*Note CSW Premier 2 Girls and Under 15 Girls games may play with more players if both sides agree.

Game On provisions may be applied in any WRFU Grade except for Premier Men and Premier 2 Men.

If a team cannot meet the required player numbers or front row numbers, the match can proceed under Game On provisions, which must be agreed upon by both teams and the referee prior to the match. 

Once agreed, these cannot change during the match.  

(Law Reference - WRFU By-Laws 13.10)

The Game On Protocol applies to all grades except Boys Premiership, Boys Premier 2, and Boys Under 15 Division 1.

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington Rugby Handbook 11ii)

There are 8 players (normally) in a scrum and a minimum of 5 players.

At all College Sport Wellington grades and the WRFU Reserve Grade the Domestic Safety Law Variations (DSLVs) for scrums are applicable.

If a team is reduced in numbers in the forwards, then the number of players each team has in the scrum must be equal. For example:

• • Yellow card Red #6. At the next scrum Red have seven forwards and Blue have eight. Blue must drop a player from their scrum to match numbers so there is 7-on-7, and in a 3-4 formation (no No8)

  • Red card Green #3. At the next scrum Green brings on #17 to allow contested scrums to continue and Green #6 goes off to keep numbers at 14. Black have eight forwards and must drop a player from their scrum to match numbers so there is 7-on-7, and in a 3-4 formation (no No8)

Teams ARE NOT required to put a back into the scrum to make numbers 8-on-8. The only exception to this is when scrums are uncontested, where they are required by Law to be 8-on-8.

(Law Reference - NZ Rugby Domestic Safety Law Variations - Law 19)

At all other grades of WRFU adult rugby except Presidents (i.e. Premier, Premier 2, Colts, Under 85kg, and Women’s) this part of the NZ DSLV’s does not apply. 

If a team is reduced in numbers, the numbers in the scrum do not need to be equal and the team can choose the formation of the flankers and No8.  A team may bring in a back to match numbers if they choose to do so. 

Again, the only exception is if scrums are uncontested, which are required by Law to be 8-on-8.

At WRFU Presidents Grade scrums are always uncontested and are required by Law to always be 8-on-8.

(Law Reference - WRFU By-Laws 12.1)

The Key elements of the HCP include:

Head Contact:

The process begins with determining if contact has occurred with the head and/or throat area. This can occur in various scenarios including:

• High tackles

• Shoulder charges

• Dangerous cleanouts

• Head-to-head collisions

• Leading elbow/forearm contact

Foul Play

The next step is to assess whether the contact constitutes foul play, considering factors like intentional or accidental, reckless or dangerous actions and whether the contact was avoidable e.g. the defender is always upright.

Degree of Danger

The level of danger posed by the contact is evaluated, including whether it was high or low force, direct or indirect contact, whether it was a dominant or passive collision. 

Mitigating Factors

The process also considers any mitigating factors that might influence the severity of the sanction like line of sight for tackler, sudden drop or change in direction by ball carrier or clear attempts by the defender to reduce height.

Note that mitigation will not apply for intentional or always-illegal acts of foul play. Also Under Law 9.11, the referee is always entitled to issue a red or yellow card for anything deemed to be reckless or dangerous. 

When officiating College Rugby Referees also need to consider the College Sport Wellington Rugby directive on dangerous play also covered in this section.

Wellington Secondary School Rugby Union's has asked the Wellington Rugby Referees Association (WRRA), who have agreed, to impose a strict tolerance when dealing with dangerous play.  

This in effect will mean that any dangerous play observed by the referee may be actioned immediately with a RED CARD (rather than a warning, penalty kick or yellow card).  

In particular, but not solely, punching, kicking, rucking of players and dangerous tackles, especially lifting and dropping/driving tackles, and those that involve direct contact to the head with force will be subject to this strict tolerance.  Referee abuse will be similarly treated.  Referees may call off matches where such measures are not taken and the match will be forfeited by the offending team.

(Law Reference - College Sport Wellington 2025 Rugby Handbook 36.iii)

As part of July 2024 World Rugby law changes the "crocodile roll" or "croc roll" was banned (Law Ref - World Rugby July 2024 Law Changes).

The Rugby Law definition of a "crocodile roll" is 

 A prohibited action where a player laterally rolls/twists or pulls a player, who is on their feet in the tackle area, to ground. The action often lands on the player’s lower limbs

Foul Play Law 9.20d and 9.20e Dangerous play in a ruck/maul were amended as follows

d. A player may remove the jackler from the tackle area by pushing/driving them backwards (including by grabbing the knee/leg), but must not roll, pull or twist an opponent. 
e. A player must not drop their weight onto an opponent or target the lower limbs.
(Sanction: Penalty)

New clause in 14.8 (Tackle Law). Other players must:

e: Not roll, pull or twist an opponent, who is involved in the tackle, to the ground

These changes, effective July 1, 2024, are designed to enhance player safety by reducing the risk of lower limb injuries.

Review this Crocodile Roll demonstration video to understand the now banned technique for removing players from a ruck.

As a Referee how should I sanction a croc roll under Foul Play Law 9?

Similar to the Head Contact Process, the level of sanction is based on the degree of danger of the action and the proximity to limbs. A penalty of yellow card if the croc roll has a low-medium level of danger – dropping the player near or onto a lower limb, a red card if the it causes hyper extension of the leg, deemed a high level of danger. 

Review these videos to see examples of the levels of danger.

Crocodile Roll - Yellow Card Examples

Crocodile Roll - Red Card Examples

(Law Reference - World Rugby Law changes - 1 July 2024)