The rugby league laws allow for a total of twelve interchanges, or substitutions, using a bench of four players. These interchanges can be made in any combination desired, and for any reason, so long as no more than twelve total swaps are made. For example, one reserve player can be brought on and off six times for the same starting player if a team desires.
In the rugby union laws, seven substitutions are allowed from a bench of seven reserve players, and they can also be for any reason (Law 3.4). Unlike rugby league, though, rugby union does not allow a replaced player to return to a match (Law 3.7). There are two exceptions for safety reasons, though. For one, if a front-row player is replaced and that replacement is injured, then the original player can return to ensure safety in the scrum (Law 3.12). For two, a player with a bleeding wound can be temporarily replaced to prevent transmission of bloodborne illness (Law 3.12; see also 3.10 and 3.11). Aside from those exceptions, though, a player who leaves the match is done for the day.
Until now. In today’s thrilling Tri-Nations match, which saw the Australia Wallabies get over the New Zealand All Blacks 34-19, New Zealand seemed to make a dubious use of the blood replacement law to keep a halfack in play. Starting halfback Andy Ellis was replaced by Jimmy Cowan early in the second half. Later, Cowan limped off the field with an apparent knee injury, and Ellis returned to play. After a few minutes, confused referee Craig Joubert inquired about the situation and was informed that Ellis had come back on due to a bleeding wound, despite there being no apparent blood on Cowan at the time he had limped off the pitch. Cowan later returned, as is allowed with a blood replacement, with a heavily strapped knee. (Interestingly, Cowan would later be seen bleeding from the nose, though only long after returning from the original blood replacement.)
Questions are being asked about the legitimacy of the maneuver, and the commentators covering the match for FOX Sports enjoyed several jokes about the possibility of “finding some blood” on other players to give them a rest (even playfully suggesting the clandestine use of a razor blade by a trainer to free up a replacement).
Given that the blood replacement rule is imperative for safety, it will be difficult for referees and opposing sides to challenge such questionable situations without compromising safety standards. At the same time, incidents such as this threaten to make a joke of the rugby union replacement laws. Armchair Playmaker suggests that rugby union should bring in some sort of interchange, similar to that of rugby league, before the blood replacements become a sham altogether. Why not allow seven total interchanges among any players in a side, or perhaps ten or twelve given the fast pace of the game under the new experimental law variations? It’s worth noting that bringing the interchange to rugby union was also suggested recently by rugby union legend Mark Ella, weeks before today’s halfback circus.
If something isn’t done, we may see a lot more rugby union players wheezing for air or clutching at sore knees and shoulders as they limp off for “blood” substitutions.
