ADDITIONAL PERSONS
Any additional person who fails to adhere to the Laws may be cautioned or sent off and misconduct charges may be issued by the Match organiser.
Appropriately trained and accredited first-aid or immediate (pitch-side) care persons may enter the playing area to attend to injured players at any time it is safe to do so.
There may be up to two medics, one on either side of the pitch, who may follow play.
These medics can only carry and provide water to a player that they are treating.
Medics cannot field, or touch a ball while it is in live play.
Sanction: Penalty where play would restart.
The following may enter the playing area provided they do not interfere with play:
Two nominated water carriers during a stoppage in play for an injury to a player or when a try has been scored. (Note: the hot weather guidelines may warrant a one minute break per half.)
In matches with a squad size of 23, water carriers may only enter when a try is scored – the scoring side to an area on/near the 10m line in their own half. The non-scoring side, can take water into in-goal or retrieve from behind the dead-ball line. The water carriers must leave when the conversion is taken.
At a penalty try, no water carriers may enter the field.
Only when no tries are scored should a natural stoppage, in a neutral place on the pitch, be used to allow players to receive water. Where this coincides with an injury, water-carriers must leave the pitch as the medic leaves the pitch.
Players may access water in the Technical zone and from behind their own dead ball line. If water is left in-goal this privilege will be removed.
A water carrier must not be a Head Coach or Director of Rugby.
A person carrying only a kicking tee and one water bottle, (solely for the kicker’s use) after a team has indicated they intend to kick at goal, or a try has been scored.
The coaches attending to their teams at half-time.
These additional persons must remain in their technical area at all times before entering the field of play as permitted above. They must not field or touch the ball while it is in live play, including while in the technical area.
Sanction: Penalty where play would restart.
No additional persons should approach, address or aim comments at the match officials, except for medics in relation to the treatment of a player.
The management of replacements may be delegated to sideline managers appointed by the match organiser. Information relating to sideline management can be found at:
https://officiating.worldrugby.org