A typical rugby match lasts 80 minutes, consisting of two 40-minute halves. The rules of international rugby designate the referee as the official timekeeper of a match. Like international soccer, each half of a rugby match may include additional time because of playing time lost because of injuries, fouls or substitutions.
Identification
The International Rugby Board, the governing entity for world rugby, specifies all rules governing the conduct of matches in its "laws of the game." Law No. 5 governs time in a rugby match and specifies the duration of the match itself, halftime, timekeeping and loss of playing time, and other regulations governing the clock. Under IRB laws, a halftime of no more than 10 minutes separates the two 40-minute halves. The referee keeps the time in a rugby match but the IRB states that the referee may delegate the task to either of the touch judges or the official timekeeper.
Lost Time for Injury
When time is lost in a rugby match, the referee adds additional playing time during the same half in which the time was lost. IRB law five states that time loss can result from player injury, and the referee can stop play for up to one minute to allow the player to be treated. However, the referee may allow play to continue while an injured player is treated. Allowing time for an injured player to be removed from the field is at the referee's discretion.
Other Lost Time
IRB law five also states that time can be lost in a rugby match because of player clothing replacement, player replacement and substitution, and a touch judge's reports of foul play. The Rugby Sidestep Central website, in its rules section, cites late tackles, blocking or obstructing opposing players, and kicking or trampling players as examples of foul play. In these instances, playing time is lost as the referee admonishes the offending player or players and assesses a penalty. In many cases of foul play, the referee awards the non-offending team a penalty kick. In addition to foul play, when the ball is dead the referee can allow time for players to replace or repair torn jerseys, shorts or other clothing. Players also can be given time to retie their laces. Any time lost for these reasons must be made up in the same half of the match.
Other Time Rules
Under the IRB laws, the referee has the power to end a rugby match at any time if he determines that playing conditions are too dangerous, such as in severe weather. During extreme heat or humidity, the referee can allow one water break of no longer than one minute in each half. The time lost should be added at the end of each half.
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