Rugby term
Sin bin
Definition
The sin bin is the temporary suspension a player serves after a yellow card, off the field for 10 minutes of playing time while the team plays a player short.
What the sin bin is
"Sin bin" is the name for the place outside the playing area where a player shown a yellow card must stay. The player is suspended for 10 minutes of playing time (Law 9).
Why players are sent to the sin bin
A player goes to the sin bin when the referee shows them a yellow card. That happens for foul play or misconduct that is serious but not a red card offence, such as repeating an offence after the referee has warned the team (Law 9), disputing the referee's decisions (Law 9), or a dangerous tackle judged at yellow card level (Law 9).
What happens while a player is in the sin bin
The team plays with one fewer player while the player is off. If the carded player is a front-row player and the team cannot contest scrums with those left, it takes another player off so a front-row replacement can come on. That player cannot return until the suspension ends (Law 3).
How long the sin bin lasts
The suspension is 10 minutes of playing time, not 10 minutes on a watch (Law 9). Playing time leaves out time lost to stoppages, so time the referee stops for an injury or a TMO review does not count. In Sevens and 10s the suspension is two minutes.
Coming back on
Once the 10 minutes are up, the player can return when the referee allows it, because the referee controls access to the playing area (Law 6). A player who commits another yellow-card offence in the same match is sent off and does not return (Law 9).
Referee signal
Common questions
What is the sin bin in rugby?
It is the temporary suspension a player serves after a yellow card. The player leaves the field for 10 minutes of playing time and their team plays with one fewer player (Law 9).
How long is a sin bin in rugby?
10 minutes of playing time. Time stopped for injuries or reviews does not count, so it can last longer on a watch. In Sevens it is two minutes.
Can a team replace a sin-binned player?
No. The team plays a player short until the suspension is over. The only exception is a front-row replacement to keep scrums contested, and another player must go off to make room (Law 3).
What happens if a player is sin-binned twice in one match?
A second yellow card in the same match means the player must be sent off (Law 9). They do not return.
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