2026 Taiwan International Rugby 10s · May 23–24

Tournament Program

比賽手冊

Welcome Letter

from the President · 主席的話

Greetings to all participants and attendees of the 2026 Taiwan International 10s Rugby tournament!

On behalf of Taipei Baboons RFC, I extend heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union (CTRFU), for graciously allowing us to co-host this thrilling event at the stunning Bailing Rugby Fields.

This year, we are honored to welcome teams hailing from Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and of course, Taiwan. Our team of officials boasts diverse backgrounds and experiences from across the region.

While there are countless individuals deserving of recognition, special thanks go to our diligent organizing committee, the CTRFU for their invaluable contributions, and to all our sponsors whose support has been instrumental in making this event possible.

The primary aim of this tournament is to propel the growth of rugby in Taiwan. By showcasing elite teams in an international arena, our objective is to ignite interest across various demographics and reach a broader audience. Central to our mission is the promotion of women's rugby — our aspiration is for the Taiwan 10s to not only cement its status as a premier tournament in Asia but also to stand as a flagship event for women's rugby in the region.

We trust that everyone will relish the tournament and enjoy their time in Taipei!

Andrew Leakey
President of Taipei International Rugby Club — The Baboons

Tournament Rules 2026

比賽規則

World Rugby Laws

The tournament will be played under the Laws of the Game of Rugby Football as set down by the World Rugby Board, subject to the amendments below.
Teams & Seeding

Men's Open: 16 teams in 4 pools of 4 teams each. Vets' Open: 8 teams in 2 pools of 4 teams each. Women's Open: 7 teams, single round-robin. Tournament Committee's decisions on pool allocations and seeding are final.
Round Robin Pool Games

All teams play round-robin matches in their respective pools/divisions on Saturday and Sunday.
Points System (Pool Games)

Win = 3 points · Draw = 1 point · Loss = 0 points. No extra time in pool games.

Advancement tiebreakers: when teams finish pool play tied on match points, ranking is decided by (a) the head-to-head result between the tied teams, then (b) points difference (points scored minus points conceded), then (c) tries scored, then (d) coin toss.
No-Show Rule

If a team cannot field 10 players within 2 minutes of the referee and opposing team being ready, the team forfeits with a recorded score of 20–0 in favour of the opposition.
No Coin Toss for Pool Games

The first team listed kicks off from the north end of the field.
Coin Toss for Final Games

Captains called to the official's box for coin toss at half-time of the immediately-preceding game.
Progression to Sunday Championship

Men's Open: Top 2 from each pool → Cup/Plate Quarter-Final. Winners progress to the Cup Semi-Final. Losers progress to the Plate Semi-Final. Bottom 2 from each pool → Bowl/Shield Quarter-Final. Winners progress to the Bowl Semi-Final. Losers progress to the Shield Semi-Final. Losers of each Semi-Final progress to 3rd/4th place matches for Cup, Plate, Bowl, and Shield.

Vets': All teams play Cup/Plate Quarter-Finals, seeded against teams from the opposite pool. Winners progress to Cup Semi-Finals. Losers progress to Plate Semi-Finals. Semi-Final losers progress to 3rd/4th place matches for Cup and Plate.

Women's: Top 4 progress to two finals: Cup and Plate.
Tie-Breakers

See Rule 4 for the full advancement tiebreaker sequence: head-to-head result, then points difference, then tries scored, then coin toss.
Tied Final Games

Sudden-death extra time: two 5-minute periods, no interval, no substitutions, except blood substitutions. If still tied, three nominated drop-kickers per team kick from the 22m line. Sudden-death drop-kicks continue until a winner is found.
Playing Time — Regular Matches

Pools, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and 3rd/4th place matches are 12 minutes one way, no half time.
Playing Time — Finals

7-minute halves, 1-minute half-time, except Men's Final which will be 10-minute halves, 2-minute half-time.
Start & Restart

Drop kick from the centre spot. All penalties and conversions by drop kick. Scoring side restarts after a try, goal, or drop goal.
Number of Players

10 on the field, squad of up to 15 per game, 17 in the weekend pool. Rolling unrestricted substitutions; subs enter at the halfway line. All players must be registered before the team's first game.
Scrums & Lineouts

Scrums: contested 5-player scrums per World Rugby laws. Offside line for the scrumhalf is the tunnel. Front row of two props and a hooker, with two additional players binding to the props as the second row.

Lineouts: standard World Rugby laws apply.
Sin Bin (Yellow Card)

A yellow card suspension is 2 minutes of playing time. If a player receives a second yellow in the same game, the player is sent off for the remainder of the match with no replacement.
Red Card

Any player sent off for serious foul play, straight red card, takes no further part in the tournament.

Any player who receives a technical red card, two yellow cards in the same match, shall be suspended for a minimum of one match, subject to review by the Tournament Director and head referee, whose joint decision shall be final.
Vets' Age Qualification

All Vets' players must be 40 or older on the weekend of the 2026 Taiwan 10s. Underage players may result in team disqualification.
Waiver

All players in a squad must sign a waiver. Players under 18 require a legal-guardian waiver to compete in senior-level rugby. Non-compliance: no responsibility accepted by the tournament or venue.