World Rugby set to trial 20-minute red cards
World Rugby will consider introducing the 20-minute red card as a global law trial despite concerns that it could diminish the deterrent effect.
The law, which is being trialled in Super Rugby, means the dismissed player can be tactically replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes.
EnglandlockCharlieEwels was sent off after 82 seconds against Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations last month, with many observers feeling the dismissal ruined the game as a contest.
World Rugby, however, is determined to keep lowering tackle heights and the Super Rugby trial so far has proved inconclusive.
“That’s been discussed before and will be discussed again,” World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said.
“It would be great if more competitions, even in a closed trial, would use it because that would give us more of an overviewoftheeffectitwouldhave on the game.
“We need to see more of the datatoseewhetherthatstrikes thebalancebetweensafetyand spectacle better.
“Thereismoreworktodoto analysethatandtheconcernis, ifateamgoesbackto15players, is that enough of a deterrent to drivethatbehaviouralchange.
“We would like to see it trialledmorewidelybeforedrawing any conclusions.”
The 20-minute red card is alreadyavailableasaclosedtrial(asperSuperRugby)butcannot be considered for global adoptionbeforethenextwomen’s (later this year) and men’s (2023) Rugby World Cups.
The 20-minute red card was not supported by World Rugby when the global trials were considered back in May 2021,butdispensationwasgiven to any competition wanting to run it as a closed trial.