Could this be the solution to red card chaos?
With the recent deluge of red cards over this year’s Autumn Internationals, the impact that the new 20 minute red card system, yellow card with off-field review and the inevitable TMO intervention on games is having on the game is more evident than ever. But what exactly is World Rugby doing about it? Well, we’ve come across an interesting take on a solution that might just work. Thanks to Tony at GameChanger® (https://gamechanger.win/) for providing us with this: A New Integrity Policy Proposal for World Rugby – Better Management of Red Cards.
New Integrity Policy Proposal for World Rugby – Better Management of Red Cards
- Aim is to protect the integrity of the game of rugby being 15 players on the field;
- Separate maintaining the game for performance and integrity versus penalties for deliberate or reckless foul play determined in a later off-field, procedural fairness environment;
- On a red card being issued – player sent off for the rest of the match – and replaced immediately from the bench to maintain a ‘team of 15 rugby players’ playing rugby;
- If there are no matching players on the bench too bad, so coaches have to manage benches – it might also reduce bench stacking of 6:2 or 7:1;
- If a red card is issued later in the game when the stakes are usually higher, a weighted penalty could be considered by the tribunal based on the player’s record, severity of incident and recurrence of late in games (‘wholeness’ of the incident);
- Looking at yellow cards, a similar approach – replaced immediately – still causing a degree of disadvantage by having to adjust and manage the impact of disruption and a potential non-identical replacement;
- If yellow goes to red, with TMO time limited to say a maximum of one minute, automatic red card policy applies;
- Outcomes:
- Integrity restored and also it acts as a further deterrent to betting irregularities (e.g. player lacking integrity and committing a deliberate foul as recently happened in football)
- Coaches have control over maintaining a full team on the field;
- Referees referee and TMO performance is automatically reviewed and judged by tribunal outcomes – perhaps requiring more training needed/match selection;
- Time to trial and review during 2026 well before RWC 2027. With the importance of RWC 2027, imagine the final decided in the first half with 13v15 in today’s sporting world – with integrity, performance and popularity vital to protect and grow the sport of rugby (note AFL and NRL have better management of games);
- It will also promote a positive culture change for players, referees and TMOs to be more careful.
