World Rugby wants to introduce a “lighter” red card at international level. The new rule, which will be tested on the November tour, is causing controversy.
For World Rugby’s taste, the oval ball is not difficult enough to understand. On October 8, the organization issued a press release detailing a number of experiments it intends to implement at international level. Among these, one new rule jumped out at rugby fans: the 20-minute red card.
Already tested at the Under-20 World Cup in July 2024, this rule is intended to be unsaturated at all international competitions and will be definitively approved, or not, in a vote on November 14. It will also be tested during the November tour. and, therefore, during the XV de France’s matches against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina. A further complication for a sport that is so difficult to explain…
The excluded player is replaced after twenty minutes by a teammate.
What would this rule mean in practice? A player shown the red card could be replaced after 20 minutes by one of his team-mates. Permanent exclusion would therefore no longer be an option. And the aim? To reduce the impact of a red card and make matches more interesting. Ridiculous? Yes. French rugby authorities have joined forces to oppose this umpteenth experiment. The French Rugby Federation, the National Rugby League and Provale, the players’ union, have published a press release “firmly to the introduction of the 20-minute red card proposed by World Rugby”..
Ex-England referee Wayne Barnes was the only one to find an advantage in the rule, believing it provided protection for the players. “The players, because Sam Cane (the All Black third-rower red-carded in the last World Cup final, editor’s note) immediately said he’d have to live with that red card for the rest of his life. The referees’ too, because if we all agree that it’s difficult to agree on a decision, we might as well try to reduce the impact for the team concerned.”Barnes analyzed in an interview with The Telegraph. Before concluding: “It will also reduce the impact of abuse on social networks against referees.”.
Yes, but… As French rugby authorities point out but also the Irish Federationthe main problem is player safety. With this red card, which is no longer a red card, dangerous gestures will no longer be penalized as they should be. In concrete terms, a player who deliberately steps on an opponent’s face could be replaced after 20 minutes. The example is a little exaggerated, but it helps to understand the idea.
“This rule would mark an unacceptable step backwards on the measures put in place several years ago to reduce head bumps and encourage players to greater technical mastery in contact.”
Joint FFR, LNR and Provale press release.
“This rule would mark an unacceptable step backwards on the measures put in place over several years to reduce head bumps and encourage players to achieve greater technical mastery in contact. Its implementation could encourage a more aggressive game or create controversy linked to the tactical exploitation of the rule, also negatively impacting rugby’s image.”argue the LNR, Provale and the FFR. Imagine, too, that Antoine Dupont, a key player for Stade Toulousain and the French national team, is targeted by defenders with the sole aim of “eliminate him” to make things easier…
With this experiment, the leaders of world rugby will not be helping to promote rugby. They will no longer ensure the safety of the players. The first matches of the November tour are likely to weigh in the balance before the final decision on whether or not to accept this far-fetched new rule.