NORTH WESTERN METROPOLITAN HIGH SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION
RUGBY 7s (updated March 2024)
The NWMHSSA Rugby 7s competition will be played using the World Rugby Under 19 Laws of the Game and includes the World Rugby Seven-a-side Variations. These documents can be found here: Laws of the Game: https://d26phqdbpt0w91.cloudfront.net/NonVideo/772da102-c7cc-4b5f-b9a8-8bd4d5bab050.pdf
U19 Australian Law Variations: https://d26phqdbpt0w91.cloudfront.net/NonVideo/c89d8a3d-55c8-4c2e-1b97-08d8d784f5bb.pdf
Rugby 7s Full Field U13-19 Laws: https://d26phqdbpt0w91.cloudfront.net/NonVideo/4792e877-e4ec-4b8f-98f3-08d996c68e5f.pdf
Competitions and Eligibility Three competitions will be contested in the 2024 season: 13/14 Years: Students who are born in 2010 or 2011 are eligible to play in this competition. 15/16 Years: Students who are born 2008 or 2009 are eligible to play in this competition. 17/18 Years: Students who are born in 2006 or 2007 are eligible to play in this competition.
If a student (or their school) wishes to play an age above or below their actual age competition, the school’s Sports Coordinator must communicate with the Convener prior to the commencement of the season to request special dispensation. Please note that this may not be granted, and is subject to Rugby Australia’s Participation Policy.
Due to the nature of this sport, students will play more than one match per day which contradicts the Zone rules. However, where schools have multiple teams in an age competition, students must only play for the same team on the day.
Playing Area 100m x 70m maximum, i.e. full field
Time All competition round and semi-final matches Play consists of two 7-minute halves, Half-time consists of an interval not exceeding two minutes. There is no extra time.
Grand finals Play consists of two 7-minute halves, Half-time consists of an interval not exceeding two minutes. In the event of a draw at full time, extra time will be played. Before extra-time starts, the referee organises a toss in the same way as before the match. Play restarts after a one-minute break with periods of no more than 5 minutes. After each period, the teams change ends without an interval. The first team to score points is immediately declared the winner without any further play.
Ball Size Size 5
Number of Players A team has 7 players on field. A team can have a squad of up to 12 players.
Substitutions Rolling substitutions are allowed and these are unlimited in number, but can only be made when the ball is dead (i.e. the game has stopped.)
Scoring After a try is scored. Defending team must provide a clear line of sight to posts for the conversion. Conversions and penalty goals must be a drop kick and taken within 30 seconds of a try having been awarded or the team indicates their intent to kick for goal, unless the opposition has delayed making the ball available. If the ball goes dead from an unsuccessful penalty goal or dropped goal attempt play must restart within 30 seconds from when it was taken with a 22m drop-out taken by the opposing team.
Kick off After a score by one team, the scoring team kicks off. The restart kick must be taken within 30 seconds from the time a conversion has been taken or declined, or from the time a penalty goal or dropped goal is kicked. If a kick-off is unsuccessful in any way (e.g. wrong kick, players in front of kicker, does not go 10 metres, goes dead), a Free Kick is awarded at the centre of the half-way line to the receiving team.
Foul play A red card = sent off and cannot return. A yellow card = 2 mins in the sin-bin. When a yellow or red card is issued, the player may not be replaced.
Scrum Scrum setup • 3 players from each team form the scrum. • A front row player must not intentionally kick the ball out of the tunnel or out of the scrum in the direction of the opponent's goal line (FK).
Scrum play •Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 15 seconds of the mark being made. •Scrum engagement sequence is CROUCH - BIND - SET. The sequence must be a controlled process with a clear non-verbal pause between 'bind' and 'set' to allow front-rowers to sight their target. All three must stay bound to the scrum until it ends. •A team must not push the scrum more than 1.5 metre (FK). •A team must not intentionally wheel a scrum (PK). • The referee will stop play and reset the scrum if the scrum is unintentionally wheeled through more than 45 degrees and there is no infringement.
Uncontested scrums If a team does not possess the appropriate training to contest scrums in a safe manner, the coach must inform the other team’s coach and referee prior to the commencement of the match. Upon agreement of all parties, scrums will then be uncontested for the duration of the match.
Lineout Teams must form the lineout within 15 seconds of the mark for touch being indicated by the referee, assistant referee or touch judge. At age groups U15 and below, players in the lineout who are to lift or support a team-mate jumping for the ball may pre-grip that team-mate providing they do not grip below the shorts. There is to be no lifting on the legs. |
