What happens if our front-row player gets a yellow or red card?

At the next scrum the referee asks whether you can continue with contested scrums (Law 3.16).

If you have a front-row replacement on the bench:

• Yellow card (Law 3.19): nominate another player to leave the field so the front-row replacement can come on. The nominated player may not return until the 10-minute suspension ends, and may not come back on as a replacement in the meantime.
• Red card (Law 3.20): nominate another player to leave so the front-row replacement can come on. The nominated player may later act as a replacement.

If you cannot continue with contested scrums, the referee orders uncontested scrums. Uncontested scrums caused by a sending-off, yellow card or injury must still be eight players per side (Law 3.15; also in SA Rugby's 2026 scrum law modifications for adult rugby). Contested scrums may resume when the player returns or another front-row player comes on.