CARDIFF – Rugby union has been adept at law trial for decades, but the proposition to bring 20-minute red cards into the game was a point of disagreement between leading players on Oct 15.
On Oct 14, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the body running the top two leagues in France, the National Rugby League (LNR), voiced concern over the idea.
The sport’s global governing body World Rugby trialled the change in the Rugby Championship earlier in 2024, allowing a team to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes in the sin bin.
National unions in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand back the proposal.
“The only way I can look at it is it probably devalues the red card,” said Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins.
“There are pros and cons to both of them, but I think we’re trying to change rugby so much. It doesn’t need to be changed.”
The French players’ union, Provale, supported the two other organisations from the country, claiming there lacked sufficient evidence to continue with the idea. They argued the change would incite dangerous play.
According to the trio, only 60 per cent of teams to have received a red card across a sample of 480 games in the Top 14 and international games lost the match.
“It’s back and forth between player safety and not wanting to ruin a game if there’s one or two reds early in the game and for a big spectacle, it can have a big effect on a game. It’s a good idea to trial it,” Ireland No. 8 Caelan Doris said.
Head injuries have become a sensitive subject in recent years after a group of former players announced they were suing World Rugby. The individuals allege not enough was done to protect them in their playing days.
“In my opinion, you have to look after lads’ heads. The downside of that is that with stricter, tough laws and tougher refereeing, you’re more likely to get more red cards,” Ireland winger Jacob Stockdale said.
“A lot of the time, a red card can ruin a game.”
La Rochelle’s Samoa centre U.J. Seuteni, 30, has been handed four yellow cards and one red during his career.
In the 2021 Top 14 semi-final loss to Toulouse, he was sent off for making head contact with Toulouse’s fly-half Romain Ntamack during a tackle when the midfielder was at Bordeaux Begles.
“It’s a good concept for the game. With the strict rules of the head-on-head collisions,” Seuteni said.
“You don’t go out there to get red cards, but there are situations where red cards are questionable. It gives an opportunity for the game to continue to be exciting. Red cards, yellow cards these days are crucial and cost you a lot in a game.”
In an attempt to improve player safety, World Rugby has reduced the legal tackle height in recent years as the sport is played at an increased pace.
“Everything happens in less than a second,” Racing 92 fullback Tristan Tedder said.
“Players are trying to win momentum, by doing that you have to go low, so everyone drops their body height but tacklers are also already trying to lower their body height, but it’s still potentially (possible to) get a knock on the chin, or the head or the shoulder. It is hard.”
The results of the trial will be studied by World Rugby’s executive board and council, and put to a vote on Nov 14. If it is approved, the change could come into force on Jan 1.
In other news, Alex Mitchell and George Ford were notable, though expected, injury absentees from Steve Borthwick’s 36-man England squad named on Oct 16 for November games against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan.
Scrum-half Mitchell has not played all season due to a neck injury and is unlikely to take any part in the Series. But fly-half Ford is listed as undergoing rehabilitation, and the 31-year-old is expected to join the squad soon as he recovers from a thigh strain.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s All Blacks ruled three experienced back row forwards out of the start of their Northern Hemisphere tour due to injury.
Coach Scott Robertson confirmed Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali’i (hamstring) were deemed unfit to depart on Oct 17 for the five-Test tour. AFP, REUTERS
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
