England lock Charlie Ewels received a red card after just 82 seconds against Ireland in the Six Nations last month, with some suggesting his dismissal hindered the contest.
Tuesday 12 April 2022 17:46, UK
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.
England lock Charlie Ewels 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 told the Daily Telegraph.
"It would be great if more competitions, even in a closed trial, would use it because that would give us more of an overview of the effect it would have on the game.
"We need to see more of the data to see whether that strikes the balance between safety and spectacle better.
"There is more work to do to analyse that and the concern is, if a team goes back to 15 players, is that enough of a deterrent to drive that behavioural change.
"We would like to see it trialled more widely before drawing any conclusions."
Analysis by Sky Sports News' James Cole
It's little surprise that the jury remains out on rugby's 20-minute red card.
Its trial in Super Rugby was inconclusive. The thinking behind it is to try to avoid red cards ruining games.
Some felt this was the case in the Six Nations when England lock Charlie Ewels was sent off after 82 seconds against Ireland.
But with World Rugby needing to lower tackle heights to protect player welfare and reduce head injuries, is it enough of a deterrent if a team can return to fIfteen players?
The long-term consequences of multiple concussions has never been clearer. Indeed World Rugby is facing litigation from former players who don't feel they were adequately protected.
Red cards are red cards for a reason. They are to punish and deter dangerous and/or reckless play and protect players.
Rather than introduce an 'orange' card and further blur the boundaries, professional players and coaches should work harder on changing their tackle technique.
Sale boss Alex Sanderson supports the 20-minute red card rule in the belief it would help police the grey area that has emerged through inconsistent refereeing.
The experimental law divides opinion, but Sanderson believes it provides a valuable compromise position.
"What we've seen is an inconsistency to what conjugates a red card and what the sanction of a red card is," Sanderson said. "I believe that's a good thing because getting a red card changes the game irrevocably. It has to change because now it's probably a bit too harsh.
"Referees don't want to be the person who dictates the outcome of the game, but increasingly so they are becoming that.
"I understand why they have shifted away from certain things, mitigating factors, affecting the decision for red cards, but there is still a lot of grey there between a yellow and a red.
"A 20-minute sanction would affect the game hugely, but not irrevocably, so I think it's probably a good idea.
"A 20-minute red card gives you an ability to punish grey areas more than the straight black and white of a yellow or red card."
