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20-minute red card among Laws to be trialled at Autumn Nations Series
By Ian Cameron
The 2024 Autumn Nations Series will feature a set of law trials aimed at enhancing the rugby experience for fans, including the 20-minute red card.
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The trials represent efforts to simplify aspects of the game while maintaining a focus on player safety.
Among the trials is the 20-minute red card, allowing referees to sanction technical offences with a 20-minute dismissal. Deliberate, dangerous foul play will still result in a permanent red card, reducing the offending team to 14 players for the remainder of the match.
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Referees have the discretion in distinguishing between technical and deliberate acts of foul play. If a player receives a 20-minute red card, they may be substituted after the suspension ends.
Additional trials include a countdown clock for scrums, lineouts, and kicks at goal. For conversions and penalty kicks, players will have 60 seconds to take their attempt; otherwise, the opportunity is forfeited, and a scrum awarded to the opposing team. Scrums and lineouts must be set within 30 seconds, or a free kick will be given to the non-offending side.
The series will also see referees use on-mic explanations to clarify decisions, enhancing the viewing experience for fans in stadiums and watching broadcasts.
Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, emphasized that these changes are aimed at engaging a broader audience while prioritizing player safety: “Everyone in rugby understands that there is a huge opportunity to capture the attention of a far broader audience, alongside catering for its existing and passionate fanbase. The law trials are just one step towards exploring this opportunity, and the trials running throughout the Autumn Nations Series will hopefully enhance the experience for fans, whilst helping explain some of the decisions taken ‘live’ and to embrace but also explain the nuances that are part of what make rugby so unique and special.
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“No trial or subsequent change is considered without utter confidence that player safety and welfare is front and centre though. First and foremost, we need to look after the players and their interests, and the trials we have opted to use this November deliver on this commitment.”
This is an excellent development. Especially after the last 2 RWC finals were decided by RCs - it makes sense to take this disruptive and subjective tool away from poor officials.
But really rugby needs an Orange card (15 mins) for accidental head clashes and a full red for flagrant, dangerous fouls (headbutts, biting, stomping etc..).
Ending a game because someone was off by inch in a highspeed dynamic collision is beyond stupid. Only the ignorant could support it.
Great bunch of changes, 20 minute red cards make the game immeasurably better. What happened to the not straight lineouts though? They have been an absolute blast to watch after that new law.
The other tremendous change was how good restarts were in the U20 World Cup. Not being able to kick it deep at a restart changes the contest completely.
A side note, is that they can't just lump and dump these law changes/additions, they need to be reworked (incl not straights). I hadn't seen a lot of the 50/20 law being used until I viewed more overseas rugby and it's terrible how it's being used in an anti attack mindset by kicking the ball into touch after you've actually made a break. Theres no way you should be able to win a lineout by playing negatively like that it goes against everything the law was introduced for.
That's terrible. The onfield ref having to make up an explanation of why the TMO has upgraded to a red is terrible. The current 'excuses' the refs are coming up with are already way too much. We don't need to know the intricate reason why one person was penalized where the other wasn't, if the ball is not out and some comes into play the ball and comes from the side or does this or that, simple say 'offside at the ruck', we don't need a paragraph explanation of the law book. Same with the new one of a player only being penalized for not rolling away or clearing out when theres a turnover, we don't need a second by second breakdown, again it's 'offside at the ruck' or 'not releasing the player'.
Concerned about the 30 second scrum set. That is going to be a shambles. Very experienced props can make it look like the other side is wasting time by not letting the opposition bind or engage properly - so if you're getting a hiding in the scrums just don't have any more scrums.
Excellent rule change. Keeps games competitive & unruined while punishing players and teams harshly.
Make less changes and make more effort to get them reffed well and communicated well. Stop tinkering!
Yes all these timers are ridiculous, teams should not have been allowed to dawdle like this to get to this point.
Watch an amateur game of rugby and its absolutely stark how much slower the professional game is. I cannot fast forward in scrums or lineouts in age grade games because they're happening so damn quick (which is good I suppose)!
Please write the full story background and not only the 6 Nations official version. IRFU, FFR, LNR and the French players union have expressed their opposition to this measure. See the Guardian article for comprehensive information.
French opposition is a nonsense. As is their 'study'. No difference was made between RCs in the first 10 mins and last 10 mins of a game.
Yeah there is a few other law changes is there? The lineout one is one I really like so weird to not see it mentioned.
What measure is that?
Yay. More law changes. Can’t wait.
they are necessary
Theres more that are needed sadly. Saw a pod cast today talking about a Bull's or Lions redcard for Kriel, unfortunately those sorts of mistakes won't be helped by these new laws (TMO process or 20 minute red cards).