Can the TMO help with restarts while the ball is dead?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Rugby
- World Rugby
- TMO protocol
- Elite rugby
- Senior
- World Rugby laws
- 2026/27
- Match officials
Yes. Under the World Rugby TMO Protocol (July 2026), while the ball is out of play the TMO may immediately give the referee information so the game restarts correctly:
- the correct team to throw into a lineout or feed a scrum
- the correct mark for a scrum, lineout, penalty or free-kick
- the correct type of restart relating to touch or in-goal
This is information to help the referee, not a formal review.
Added 21 Oct 2026