New substitute protocol to be trialled in November tests

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced a trial of new protocol governing the process of substituting players.

The trial, which was approved by the IRB Executive Committee, will operate during the November Test period for international matches and is designed to give greater clarity to what is a busy area of the game for fourth and fifth officials to manage under existing protocols.

The revised protocol will require players entering the field of play as replacements to only do so from the touchline on halfway once the player substituted has left via the touchline, touch in goal line or dead ball line.