3.13 FRONT ROW FORWARD SENT OFF OR TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED OR INJURED

(a) If after a front row player has been sent off or during the time a front row player is temporarily suspended, and there are no further front row players available from the nominated team, then uncontested scrums will be ordered. It is not the responsibility of the referee to determine the suitability of trained front row replacements nor their availability, as this is a team responsibility.

(b) After a front row player is sent off or during the time a front row player is temporarily suspended the referee, upon awarding the next scrum, will ask that player’s captain whether or not the team has another player on the field of play who is suitably trained to play in the front row. If not, the captain chooses any player from that team who then must leave the field of play and be replaced by a suitably trained front row player from the team’s replacements. The captain may do this immediately prior to the next scrum or after another player has been tried in the front row.
(c) When a period of temporary suspension ends and a front row player returns to the field of play, the replacement front row player leaves the field of play and the nominated player who left the field of play for the period of the suspension may resume playing in the match.
(d) Furthermore, if, because of sending off or injury, a team cannot provide enough suitably trained front row players, the match continues with uncontested scrums.

(e) When the referee orders uncontested scrums during a match, as a result of a team not having suitably trained and experienced front row players in compliance with Law, the referee will report the matter to the Match Organiser.
(f) When a team does not have suitably trained front row players prior to the match such that contested scrums cannot take place the referee will order uncontested scrums. The referee will report the matter to the Match Organiser.
(g) A Match Organiser may determine within competition rules that a match may not commence in the event of suitably trained and experienced players not being available prior to a match.