Womens’ Rugby Law Guide

This is a comprehensive guide to the laws and regulations under which women’s rugby is played in Hertfordshire. The guidance herein is based expressly on advice from the Head of Women’s Competitions at the RFU.

Womens’ Rugby Structure

Including Hertfordshire teams in 23/24 season.

• Level 1: Premiership Women’s Rugby
• Level 2: Championship 1
• Level 3: Championship 2
• Level 4: National Challenge 1
  • Old Albanians
  • Welwyn
• Level 5: National Challenge 2
  • Cheshunt
  • Harpenden
  • Hitchin
• Level 6: National Challenge 3
  • Bishops Stortford
  • Datchworth
  • Letchworth
  • Tabard

Laws

51. Subject to the Regulations below or as otherwise varied by these Regulations, all matches must be played in accordance with the World Rugby Laws of the Game save that at Women’s Level 6 and below, the World Rugby Under 19 Law Variations will apply [See below – the link in Regulation 6 of the RFU Regs to the under 19s variations is to an out of date version, this note is based on the 2024 version of those variations and the RFU’s advice.]

52 : The Game On Principles may apply in … Women’s League matches at National Challenge 2 and below without further approval … subject in all cases to both teams agreeing which of the Game On Principles will apply to the match, and notifying the Referee accordingly at least 30 minutes prior to kick-off. If both teams cannot agree whether a Game On Principle will apply, the match will proceed without the application of that Game On Principle.

Game On Principles

The Game On Principles apply automatically to all matches in NC 3 and, if both teams agree before the kick off, to matches in NC2.

Those principles are :

• Team Numbers A match can take place with a minimum of 10 players on each team at the start of the match. It is encouraged that the number of players on each team is equal, subject to the laws of the game.  [NB : This is said to be an ‘encouragement’ not a requirement, but this conflicts with Reg 6.56 which requires no’s to be level, subject to the application of the laws – see below].
• Rolling substitutions are permitted.
• Half Game Rule Where rolling substitutions are used, teams are encouraged to apply the half game rule to ensure each player in every match day squad plays at least half of the playing time.
• Line outs Teams may agree not to contest or lift in the line out
• Scrums Teams may agree that scrums can be either contested push and strike (maximum 1.5m push) or uncontested.

Playing Time

The standard match duration is 40 minutes per half in NC 1 and NC 2 and 35 mins per half in NC3. The teams in NC3 can agree on a shorter match length, subject to a minimum of 40 minutes being played in the match).

Playing No’s

56 : At Women’s Level 5 and below [ie in National Challenge 2 and 3], there must be the same number of players from each team on the field of play, subject to the Laws of the Game. If a team drops below 10 players, the match will be abandoned and the team responsible for causing the abandonment shall be deemed to have lost the match. [NB : The requirement to match playing no’s is expressly subject to the Laws of the game. Therefore, if a team loses a player to a red or yellow card, the other team is not required to drop a player in order to keep the no’s even.].

Scrums

62. The provisions pertaining to front row forward replacements, number of front row forwards and uncontested scrums are as set out in the World Rugby Law 3 (or the World Rugby Under 19 Law Variations if applicable), unless the Game On principles are being followed. This means that, if a team in NC1 is unable at any time in the game to replace a front row player, that team must play with 14. If the front row has been removed a result of a yellow card, the team can go back up to 15 when the front row returns.

This ‘player off’ rule only applies to matches in NC1. In matches in NC2 and NC3, there is no sanction against a team which cannot provide a front row.

The 1.5m push rule at scrums applies automatically in NC 3 and also at NC2 if the teams agree before the match to play under the Game On principles.

The rule in men’s rugby that a team which cannot replace a front row player at the 1^st time of asking automatically loses the game applies to women’s rugby in NC 1 but not in NC 2 or NC 3.

In all women’s rugby, a team which loses a front row forward but has another front row on the bench is required to remove another player and bring the replacement FR on so that contested scrums can continue.