WORLD RUGBY FIFTEENS
60SECONDS
Conversions & Penalty Goals
The standard time limit under the current World Rugby fifteens laws.
See how the clock starts →RFC EXPLAINSRUGBY LAWS & RULES
Rugby Kicking Time Limits Explained
How long does a rugby kicker actually have?
The answer depends on the type of kick — and sometimes the competition. Here is how the clocks work for conversions and penalty goals in fifteens, France's Top 14 and Pro D2, and Rugby Sevens.
60 Fifteens45 Top 14 / Pro D230 Sevens
QUICK ANSWER
Three Clocks to Know
For most supporters, these are the numbers that matter.
2026–27 TRIAL
TOP 14 & PRO D2
45SECONDS
Conversions & Penalty Goals
France has reduced the limit by another 15 seconds as part of an approved experiment.
Why France changed it →
WORLD RUGBY SEVENS
30SECONDS
Conversions & Penalty Goals
Sevens uses an even shorter clock to fit the faster structure of the format.
How Sevens differs →Important:
Competition-specific trials can differ from the standard laws,
so the clock you see may depend on the competition being played.
CONVERSIONS
How Long Does a Kicker Have for a Conversion?
Under the current World Rugby laws for fifteens, a conversion must be taken within 60 seconds.
The important detail is when that countdown begins.
The clock starts when the try is awarded — not when the tee arrives, not when the kicker reaches the ball and not when the kicker begins a routine.
That means some of the available time can already be disappearing while the kicker moves into position.
The 60-second limit was introduced globally in 2025, replacing the previous 90-second conversion limit as part of World Rugby's effort to reduce stoppages in play.
PENALTY GOALS
How Long Does a Kicker Have for a Penalty?
Under the standard World Rugby fifteens law, the limit is also 60 seconds.
But the penalty clock does not begin at the same moment as the conversion clock.
It begins when the team indicates its intention to kick at goal.
Once that intention has been indicated, the team must attempt the kick at goal within the permitted time.
The intention can be communicated to the referee. Actions associated with preparing the kick, such as the arrival of the kicking tee, can also indicate that the team has chosen to kick at goal.
THE KEY DIFFERENCE
Conversion: the clock starts when the try is awarded.
Penalty: the clock starts when the team indicates its intention to kick at goal.
Penalty: the clock starts when the team indicates its intention to kick at goal.
THE FRENCH EXPERIMENT
Why Is the Top 14 Using 45 Seconds?
TOP 14 / PRO D245SECONDS
CONVERSIONS & PENALTY GOALS
France has gone further than the standard 60-second fifteens limit.
During the 2026–27 season, kickers in the Top 14 and Pro D2 have only 45 seconds for conversions and penalty attempts.
The FFR and LNR proposed the 45-second experiment to World Rugby, which approved it for the 2026–27 Top 14 and Pro D2 season.
The stated objective is to increase effective playing time by reducing time spent waiting for kicks at goal.
That gives kickers 15 seconds less than under the standard World Rugby fifteens law.
The conversion clock can be particularly demanding because it begins when the try is awarded. A kicker playing fullback, for example, may be some distance from where the try was scored and can use part of those 45 seconds simply reaching the kicking position.
The change attracted attention early in the season when Toulouse and France kicker Thomas Ramos questioned whether reducing the clock to 45 seconds was necessary.
RFC ANALYSIS
READ THE RFC ANALYSIS →
Is the Top 14 Trying to Become Rugby's Fastest Competition?
The 45-second clock is only one part of a wider French push involving fewer replacements, quicker video reviews and more effective playing time.
RUGBY SEVENS
Why Is the Sevens Clock Only 30 Seconds?
Sevens is built around shorter matches, rapid restarts and minimal downtime.
Under World Rugby's Sevens variations, both conversions and penalty goals must be taken within 30 seconds.
There is another important difference: conversions and penalty goals in Sevens must be taken as drop kicks.
That means the kicker cannot use the conventional place-kick and tee commonly seen for conversions and penalty goals in fifteens.
The shorter clock fits the fundamental character of the format: get the ball back into play quickly.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why Is Rugby Shortening Kicking Times?
The larger issue isn't really the kicker. It's what happens while everyone else is waiting.
Less Dead Time
Shorter kicking windows reduce periods when the ball is out of play and little is happening.
More Effective Rugby
Rugby authorities have increasingly focused on reducing stoppages and increasing the amount of meaningful action during a match.
A Faster Experience
A few seconds on one kick may seem insignificant. Repeated across an entire match, those seconds begin to add up.
THE BIG QUESTION
How much time can rugby remove from the spaces between the action without fundamentally changing the game?
AT A GLANCE
Rugby Kicking Time Limits
| Format / Competition | Conversion | Penalty Goal |
|---|---|---|
| World Rugby FifteensStandard law | 60 sec | 60 sec |
| Top 14 / Pro D22026–27 French trial | 45 sec | 45 sec |
| World Rugby SevensSevens variation | 30 sec | 30 sec |
Competition-specific law trials may differ from the standard World Rugby laws.
FAQ
Rugby Kicking Clock Questions
When does the conversion clock start in rugby?
Under the standard World Rugby fifteens law, the countdown
begins when the try is awarded.
Does the conversion clock start when the tee arrives?
No. The clock begins when the try is awarded, so time can
already be passing before the tee reaches the kicker.
How long does a rugby player have to kick a penalty?
Under the standard World Rugby fifteens law, the player has
60 seconds from the time the team indicates its intention
to kick at goal. Competition-specific trials can use a
shorter limit.
When does the penalty kicking clock start?
The clock begins when the team indicates its intention to
kick at goal. The decision can be communicated to the
referee or indicated by actions associated with preparing
the kick.
Why does the Top 14 use a 45-second kicking clock?
The Top 14 and Pro D2 are using a 45-second limit during
the 2026–27 season as part of an experiment proposed by
the FFR and LNR and approved by World Rugby. Its stated
objective is to increase effective playing time.
What happens if a conversion takes too long?
The conversion is disallowed. The team keeps the five
points for the try but loses the opportunity to add the
two-point conversion.
What happens if a penalty kick takes too long?
The kick at goal is disallowed and the opposition is
awarded a scrum.
How long do kickers have in Rugby Sevens?
World Rugby's Sevens variations allow 30 seconds for both
conversions and penalty goals. Conversions and penalty
goals in Sevens must be taken as drop kicks.
OFFICIAL RULES
Check the Laws
RFC Explains is designed to make rugby's laws easier to understand. For the complete wording, always refer to the official World Rugby laws and applicable competition regulations.