In the interest of ensuring all fans of Gallagher Premiership Rugby are up to date with the latest rules and regulations, the substitution protocols have been published for the 2018-19 season.
These were confirmed on August 29 2018 and were previously ratified by World Rugby and the RFU.
These protocols split the reasons for a player leaving the field into five sections: injury, tactical, blood, Head Injury Assessments (HIA) and players forced to leave the field due to injury through foul player.
Injured player
If a player leaves the field due to injury (unless due to a Head Injury Event), only players on the bench not previously used may replace that individual, except front-row players used for a tactical replacement, who may go back onto the field of play in the event of an injury to a front-row player.
The injured player leaving the field cannot be used again.
Tactical substitutions
For players leaving the field as a tactical substitution, only players on the bench not previously used may replace that player.
The player exiting the field can be used again if coming on for blood injury, HIA or a front-row substitution if they are suitably trained and a player is forced to leave the field through foul play.
Blood injuries
If there is a blood injury, the departing player can be replaced by any of his team-mates who have not been removed due to injury (including those already removed for tactical reasons).
The player sustaining a blood injury cannot be used again but can return within 15 minutes. If said player does not return to the field the temporary replacement becomes permanent.
Head-Injury Assessments
Regarding players leaving the field for a HIA – the HIA 1 off-field screen will be for a fixed period of ten minutes and that player cannot return to play before ten minutes even if the HIA 1 assessment has been completed.
If that player fails to present himself to the fourth official before the ten-minute period is completed then that player will be deemed to have been permanently replaced.
A player leaving the field for a HIA may be temporarily replaced by anyone who has not been permanently removed due to injury, including those removed for tactical reasons. The temporary replacement may take penalty kicks or conversions and if given a red or yellow card, the associated penalty will apply to the player undergoing the HIA.
For clarification, if a player is removed due to a Head Injury Event (which could be HIA, or Immediate Permanent Removal) any player (who has not been permanently replaced due to injury) who is on the bench can replace him.
Injury through foul play
If a player is forced to leave the field due to injury through foul play, they may be replaced by any player who has not been removed due to injury including those already removed for tactical reasons.
The change must happen at the first stoppage after foul play. The player exiting the field cannot be used again.
Read more at https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/gallagher-premiership-rugby-substitution-protocols-explained/#wjhxLPDV4myuRyby.99