Stu M wrote:
I’m only going off what I’ve been told. However I’m also wondering in that case that if the official mandate is 8 subs but no one in an official capacity is managing that, then perhaps coaches have an unwritten rule between them that they’ll use more subs during the regular season games.
Some teams don't adhere to the rules because they know it's unlikely they will be caught. You don't seem to get how seriously they take academy rugby, it's nothing like a friendly. The players are playing for contracts and the coaches are coaching for their next move up the ladder as well.