A historical change affecting sevens
This record compares the 2023 law book with the July 2024 update; it does not announce a new 2026 change. Sevens uses the general laws unless its variations replace them. Its Law 20 variation changes kicking methods, leaving the revised options in Law 20.3–20.4 applicable. See the July 2024 law book.
The change affects captains choosing restarts, referees administering them and spectators interpreting those decisions. For youth or modified competitions, check the applicable union and event variations.
Before and after
Example: a team receives a free-kick away from a lineout. Under the 2023 laws, its captain could elect a scrum. Under the July 2024 update, that choice is unavailable; the team takes the free-kick.
For broader context, see penalties and free-kicks in sevens.
Adoption, commencement and exceptions
World Rugby Council approved the amendments on 9 May 2024, and World Rugby announced them that day. The formal decision letter, dated 29 May, specifies general implementation on 1 July 2024, excluding the Olympic Games and tournaments that had commenced before 1 July. Thus this date must not be presented as the Paris 2024 Olympic sevens implementation date. The letter supplies no replacement commencement date for those exceptions. Sources: announcement and Council decision letter, opening notice and Annex One.
This is a confirmed historical amendment, not a proposed trial. The comparison establishes the 2024 transition; it does not certify every later competition’s rules.
Official evidence
- 2023 law book: previous free-kick options and Sevens variation.
- July 2024 law book: amended options and applicability to sevens.
- Council decision letter: adoption, commencement and competition exceptions.
- 9 May 2024 announcement of the approved law changes.
Change status
Confirmed change
Effective from:
Before and after
| Situation | World Rugby · Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2023 · Historical baseline for rugby sevens, applying the general laws together with the Sevens variations. | World Rugby · Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2024 — July update · Rugby sevens under the amended general laws and Sevens variations. General commencement was 1 July 2024; the Olympic Games and tournaments begun before that date were excluded. |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a scrum instead of a free-kick | The 2023 laws allowed a team awarded a free-kick to choose a scrum. At a lineout, it could instead choose a lineout or scrum at the same mark. | The July 2024 laws removed the scrum choice for a free-kick. A free-kick awarded at a lineout still permits choosing a lineout at the same mark. The scrum option remains available for a penalty. |
Rule editions and sources
- World Rugby · Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2023 · Historical baseline for rugby sevens, applying the general laws together with the Sevens variations. — World Rugby Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2023
- World Rugby · Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2024 — July update · Rugby sevens under the amended general laws and Sevens variations. General commencement was 1 July 2024; the Olympic Games and tournaments begun before that date were excluded. — World Rugby Laws of the Game Rugby Union 2024 — July update