The pitfalls of red and yellow cards in rugby

“A RED card? Referees do not know any more”. Thus a headline in Thursday’s Daily Telegraph apropos an article by Nigel Owens mulling over England’s Freddie Steward following his collision with Ireland’s Hugo Keenan during last Saturday’s game which resulted in a sending off.

Essentially, it left Nigel scratching his head over the confusion, as it did most people within the game, whether players, referees, administrators or supporters. He rounded off his thoughts thus: “The best officials are appointed for these games for a reason. We need to trust them to make the right calls on the field.” But Nigel, the laws are now both complex and perplexing; too much rests on their whistle.

The escalating number of yellow and red cards, with endless TMO replays, almost always for a splitsecond error of judgment, is spoiling the game as a genuine contest. When Steward was red-carded, I rolled my eyes and zapped to watch Bangers and Cash (and I say that as a Welshman, even though it gave Ireland a clear head start!).

There is an ongoing trial in Super Rugby where a player can be shown a yellow card and then the incident is reviewed off-field and potentially

upgraded to a red card, but allowing the replacement of that player after 20 minutes.

Surely, it is time to follow American football, with every banished player, whether yellow or red, being immediately replaced to maintain balance and, importantly, player welfare – but post-match punishment should feature appropriate suspension and meaningful fines against both player and club or country. Oh, and loss of table points relative to the severity of accumulative misdemeanours.

Some argue that such a policy in rugby is “ludicrous” and “a cheat’s charter”.

Yet, in the NFL it is exceedingly rare to see a player sent off. Why? Because the post-match punishment really does fit the crime. That’s the way to go, folks.

Huw Beynon Llandeilo