20-MINUTE RED CARD DRAWS BACKLASH

French authorities oppose World Rugby's trial to allow a team to replace offender

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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.