How long are sevens matches, and how does extra time work?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Rugby
- Sevens
- Club rugby
- Senior
- World Rugby laws
- 2026
- Players
Under the World Rugby Laws of the Game 2026 sevens variations (Law 5):
| Length | |
|---|---|
| Normal match | 2 × 7 minutes, plus time lost |
| Competition final | Up to 2 × 10 minutes, plus time lost and extra time |
| Half-time | Up to 2 minutes |
Extra time (for a drawn match that needs a winner)
- Play restarts after a one-minute break.
- Extra time is played in periods of up to 5 minutes, changing ends after each period without an interval.
- The referee holds a new toss before extra time.
- The first team to score wins, with no further play.
Added 22 Oct 2026