How long is a rugby league player normally sent to the sin bin?

A rugby league player is normally sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

The sin bin is used when a referee judges that a temporary dismissal is appropriate, usually for serious foul play, repeated infringements or deliberate professional fouls. The player leaves the field, and the team generally continues with one fewer player during the suspension.

The sin-bin period is timed by the match officials and the player may return when the period expires, subject to the referee’s instructions. A red card is different: it removes a player for the rest of the match rather than temporarily.

The 10-minute sanction is also found in rugby union, which can cause confusion because the two rugby codes otherwise have different laws and playing structures. Competition regulations can affect how temporary dismissals are administered, but 10 minutes is the standard figure.