Former Ireland international fly-half Ronan O’Gara has slammed the 20-minute red card rule as he believes it would see the sport “re-entering dangerous territory”.
The La Rochelle head coach was firm in his view on the rule that allows teams to replace a red-carded player after 20 minutes to help avoid contests becoming one-sided.
Speaking on Off The Ball, the former Munster, Ireland and British & Irish Lion did not hold back on the proposal that has received a mixed reaction around the world.
“Nonsense” move
The 2024 Rugby Championship and World Rugby’s U20 Championship trialled the new law, but the French Rugby Federation (FFR) have recently been critical of it.
“My thoughts would be strong, the 20-minute red card is nonsense,” was O’Gara‘s response to the host when asked his take on a rule World Rugby are keen to roll out.
“I don’t see where it fits into the game.”
O’Gara, who was savagely punched on the 2001 Lions tour of Australia by Waratahs full-back Duncan McRae that resulted in a sending off, further explained his view.
“We’re always trying to learn how to make the game better. A red card is a serious act of foul play. If it’s a serious act of foul play, there’s no place in the game for 20-minutes (red cards),” he said.
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“It’s quite simple, if it warrants a red card and the criteria and process around awarding a red card is quite strict – but nowadays is strict the right word to use because there’s a difference of opinion on nearly every single rule in the game of rugby and a different perception in terms of head shots and height and intent.
“A 20-minute red card I think it opens the door, especially for player safety, we could be re-entering dangerous territory again.”
As mentioned, O’Gara’s opinion comes on the back of the FFR, National Rugby League and Provale expressing “firm opposition” to World Rugby’s red card proposal.
French analysis
“Statistics provided by the FFR [French Rugby Federation] to World Rugby show that a red card does not systematically mean defeat for the penalised team,” read a joint statement earlier this week.
“Indeed, the analysis based on 480 Top 14 matches and Tier 1 international matches shows that only 60% of the teams receiving a red card lost at the end of the match.”
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