What signals tell players and the crowd what the TMO and referee have decided?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Rugby
- World Rugby
- TMO protocol
- Elite rugby
- Senior
- World Rugby laws
- 2026/27
- Match officials
World Rugby's match official signals and the 20-minute red card guideline:
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Extended index fingers draw a rectangle (a TV screen) | Referee is consulting the TMO |
| Yellow card raised in the air | Player cautioned and off for 10 minutes |
| Yellow card, then arms crossed above the head | Yellow card, and the incident goes for off-field review during the 10 minutes |
| Red card, then arms crossed | 20-minute red card: player cannot return, but can be replaced after 20 minutes |
| Red card without arms crossed | Permanent red card: player cannot return or be replaced |
When an off-field review upgrades a yellow card, the referee shows the red card followed by the arms-crossed signal.
Added 21 Oct 2026