How do replacements work in sevens?

World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026 (sevens variations)

• A team may nominate and use up to five replacements. The match organiser decides how many may be nominated, up to a maximum of five.

SA Rugby Side-Line Management Protocol for Sevens (SA Rugby tournaments)

• The same player may be replaced more than once, as long as the team makes no more than five replacements in total.
• Each team gets six replacement cards per match. The team manager completes a card for each change (tactical, injury, blood or HIA), and the replacement controller sends the player on through the technical zone manager.
• At a penalty kick, the non-offending team may ask for a replacement, and the opponents may then also make replacements. The penalised team may not start the replacement process.
• At try time, the referee only needs to be told "replacement completed".