A standard rugby union team has 15 players on the field.

In other major formats:

  • Rugby union: 15 players on the field, with up to 8 substitutes allowed in the matchday squad (23 total).
  • Rugby league: 13 players on the field, typically with 4 substitutes available.
  • Rugby sevens: 7 players on the field, usually 5 on the bench for a 12‑player squad.

So if someone asks “how many players in a rugby team?” and doesn’t specify the code, they almost always mean rugby union’s 15‑a‑side format.