Substitutes and replacements

Law 3

In these days of rapid comings and goings and comings back and not comings back, team management needs to be au fait with the laws - and so do referees and touch judges and the rest of that clever panel called match officials.

These are easy, short statements that are either True or False, but have your wits about you.

1. The maximum number of substitutes allowed in an international match is six.

2. A substitute comes on for a centre. The substitute is injured. The centre may not return to the match.

3. The fullback is substituted. His substitute goes off bleeding. The fullback may return to the match.

4. In 3 above, the bleeding player is not back after 15 minutes. The fullback may stay on the field.

5. A prop is substituted. The player who replaces him is sent to the sin bin. The substituted player is allowed to return.

6. A player leaves the field bleeding. The player replaces him is sent off the field. The player who had been bleeding is allowed to return.

7. A player leaves the field bleeding. The player replaces him is sent to the sin bin. The player who had been bleeding is allowed to return immediately.

8. A bleeding player comes back onto the field during play and tackles an opponent. The referee should penalise him.

9. A prop is injured and leaves the field. His replacement is then seriously injured. The player originally injured declares that he can play on and wants to return. He is allowed to return.

10. Ten minutes before half-time a player is injured. Half-time lasts 10 minutes. Four minutes into the second half, he wishes to return to the field. He is allowed to return.

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