Assistant Referee's Guide to Rugby Canada Community Rugby All Ages 2026

Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Law 6):

• For a kick at goal, one assistant referee or touch judge stands at or behind each goal post. You stand in in-goal, behind the goal posts, while judging the kick.
• If the ball goes over the crossbar and between the posts, raise the flag to indicate a goal.
• If there is doubt whether a kick at goal was successful, the referee can seek help from a television match official, where one is appointed.
• Apart from judging kicks at goal, an assistant referee remains in touch.

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, Law 6 and the assistant referee signals page: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Law 6.26):

• When the ball or the ball-carrier has gone into touch or touch-in-goal, hold up the flag.
• Stand at the place of the throw and point to the team entitled to throw in. The official signal chart shows this as raising the flag with one arm, moving to the mark of touch and standing there, pointing with the other arm towards the team entitled to throw.
• When the ball is thrown in, lower the flag, except when:
  • the player throwing in steps on the field of play as part of the throwing action;
  • the team not entitled to throw in has done so; or
  • at a quick throw, the ball that went into touch is replaced by another ball, or after going into touch it was touched by anyone except the ball-carrier who took it into touch or the player who takes the throw.
• Carry a flag or something similar to signal your decisions.

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, Law 6 and the assistant referee signals page: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

The referee, not you. Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Law 6.26d), it is for the referee, and not the assistant referee or touch judge, to decide whether the ball was thrown in from the correct place.

Your job is to stand at the place of the throw and point to the team entitled to throw in, and to lower the flag when the ball is thrown in (apart from the exceptions listed in the touch signalling question).

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, Law 6: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Law 6):

• The match organiser may give assistant referees the authority to signal foul play. Check that you have it before the match.
• To signal that foul play or misconduct has been seen, hold the flag horizontally and point infield at right angles to the touchline.
• After signalling, stay in touch and carry on with all your other duties until the next stoppage in play.
• At the referee's invitation you may then enter the playing area to report the offence. You may do this only at the next stoppage in play and when the referee allows. The referee then takes appropriate action.
• If your verbal report leads to a player being sent off, you submit a written report to the referee as soon as possible after the match.

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, Law 6 and the assistant referee signals page: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

Yes, in one situation. Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Law 6.27e), if your verbal report to the referee leads to a player being sent off, you submit a written report about the incident to the referee as soon as possible after the match, and the referee provides it to the match organiser.

Separately, the referee must give the match organiser a written report on any sent-off player's foul play as soon as possible.

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026, Law 6: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

Under World Rugby Laws 2026 (Laws 5 and 6):

• The referee keeps the time but may delegate the duty to either or both assistant referees and/or an official time-keeper, signalling any stoppage to them.
• In matches without an official time-keeper, if the referee is in doubt about the correct time, the referee consults either or both assistant referees.
• The referee may consult you about your duties, foul play and timekeeping, and may request help on other aspects of the referee's duties.
• The referee has control over you, may tell you what your duties are and may overrule your decisions.
• The referee may alter a decision after you have raised the flag for touch or touch-in-goal, or signalled foul play.
• If the referee finds a touch judge unsatisfactory, the referee may ask for a replacement. If the referee believes a touch judge is guilty of misconduct, the referee may send the touch judge off and report to the match organiser.

Source: World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026: https://passport.world.rugby/media/wnvjlxtb/2607en-world-rugby-laws-final-compressed.pdf

Rugby Canada's age-grade law variations (2023 editions) use different titles:

• U11 and U12: every match is under the control of a Game Manager. Additional persons authorised by the match organisers may include assistant Game Managers and a reserve Game Manager. The Game Manager may consult the assistant Game Managers on matters relating to their duties.
• U13 and U14 (13 v 13): every match should be controlled by a trained, registered and appointed match official where possible. Additional persons authorised by the match organisers may include an assistant match official and a reserve match official. The match official may consult the assistant match officials on matters relating to their duties.

Source: Rugby Canada U11 and U12 Law Variations: https://rugby.ca/uploads/Community/Age_Grade_Law_Variations_2023/English/Rugby_Canada_-_2022_Law_Variations_Community_Rugby_Eng_U11_U12_v3_Jan2023.pdf and U13 and U14 (13 v 13) Law Variations: https://rugby.ca/uploads/Community/Age_Grade_Law_Variations_2023/English/Rugby_Canada_-_2022_Law_Variations_Community_Rugby_Eng_U13_U14-13s_v2_Jan2023.pdf