How many interchanges does my team get, and how does an interchange work?

Question

Accepted Answer

Thirteen players per team are on the field at any one time, and each team must list four interchange players on its official team list. BMD Premiership, Harvey Norman Under 19s and Harvey Norman Under 17s teams can use up to 10 interchanges in ordinary time. Each team gets a set of official interchange cards numbered 1 to 10. To interchange, the interchange player must personally take a card, in ascending numerical order (1st interchange hands over card 1, and so on), to the Interchange Official. Trainers cannot carry or present the card. You may only enter once the Interchange Official has accepted your card and the player you are replacing has left the field. You enter from an onside position. A maximum of two interchange players can report to the Interchange Official at any one time. Interchanges can occur during general play, after scoring or when play is suspended. At scrums, they are only allowed at scrums from a touch line stoppage, and only if the interchange player is already with the Interchange Official. Interchanging a bleeding player counts towards the 10. A free interchange (not counted) applies if you are fouled by an opponent who is sin binned or sent off and you must leave the field with an injury from that incident, provided it is made without delay. Source: 2026 Statewide Competitions Operations Manual, section 27.