#!/usr/bin/perl

$text = 'YAY! <a href="/cgi-bin/ruling?candy=265-23&path=/rules/other/265-23&file_num=265-23&action=Show_Form" class="subCat9">Click to submit</a> YAY!';

$find='<a href="/cgi-bin/ruling?candy=265-23&path=/rules/other/265-23&file_num=265-23&action=Show_Form" class="subCat9">Click to submit</a>';

$replace="This is a replacement";

# Would like to see
# YAY! This is a replacement YAY!

$text=~s/$find/$replace/g;

print $text;

# I get
# YAY! <a href="/cgi-bin/ruling?candy=265-23&path=/rules/other/265-23&file_num=265-23&action=Show_Form" class="subCat9">Click to submit</a> YAY!