French authorities are becoming a member of forces with gamers to oppose plans by World Rugby to alter its rules with the introduction of a 20-minute crimson card, saying it poses a well being danger.
The game’s governing physique stated final week that the potential of changing a red-carded participant with a teammate after 20 minutes was shifting nearer to international adoption following “profitable trials.”
The sent-off participant wouldn’t, although, be capable to return for the remainder of the match.
The proposed new legislation is a part of a package deal of modifications “designed to reinforce the viewing and enjoying expertise,” World Rugby stated.
In a joint assertion, the French rugby federation, the league and the gamers’ union Provale disagreed.
Forward of a World Rugby council assembly subsequent month, they stated they had been firmly against the adoption of the rule and known as on the game’s governing physique “to base itself on proof earlier than modifying such an important sanction, significantly with regard to the impression on participant security.”
“For the FFR, LNR and Provale, the crimson card is an important software that deters unsporting behaviour and protects the bodily integrity of gamers,” they stated. “Reworking this sanction into a short lived expulsion might encourage harmful behaviour, thereby compromising participant security, which should stay absolutely the precedence.”
Solely three crimson playing cards had been issued on the U20 World Championship, they stated that the testing of the rule change in 4 competitions “the place inadequate knowledge has been collected can’t be thought-about as a convincing motive for enchancment earlier than contemplating a worldwide implementation.”
The innovation was launched by New Zealand in 2020 in Tremendous Rugby to attempt to handle foul play with out impacting the integrity of a match. It has additionally been trialled within the Rugby Championship.
The FFR, LNR and Provale challenged the concept that the brand new rule will encourage a extra fluid sport.
“The statistics supplied by the FFR to World Rugby present {that a} crimson card just isn’t systematically synonymous with defeat for the group penalised,” they stated. “In truth, an evaluation primarily based on 480 Prime 14 matches and worldwide matches in Tier 1 exhibits that solely 60% of groups proven a crimson card misplaced the match.”
The FFR, LNR and Provale additionally raised issues that the introduction of the 20-minute crimson card could harm the picture of rugby because it might encourage extra aggressive play.
