The IRB Council at its Interim Meeting last month approved an amendment to Regulation 14.2.1 © as follows:

If a player sustains a bleeding or open wound (“blood injury”) the player must leave the playing area. The match doctor shall determine whether a player has a blood injury that requires the player to leave the field for treatment. If so the player shall remain off the field until such time as the bleeding has been controlled, the wound covered or dressed and in the opinion of the match doctor the player is able to resume playing provided it is within the time period prescribed within Law 3. For the avoidance of doubt a player that has left the playing area with a blood injury shall not be entitled to resume playing if he does not return to the playing area within the time prescribed in Law 3.