French authorities are becoming a member of forces with gamers to oppose plans by World Rugby to vary its laws with the introduction of a 20-minute pink card, saying it poses a well being danger.
The game’s governing physique stated final week that the opportunity of changing a red-carded participant with a teammate after 20 minutes was shifting nearer to world adoption following “profitable trials.”
The sent-off participant wouldn’t, although, have the ability to return for the remainder of the match.
The proposed new regulation is a part of a package deal of adjustments “designed to boost the viewing and enjoying expertise,” World Rugby stated.
In a joint assertion, the French rugby federation (FFR), the league (LNR) 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 a vital sanction, significantly with regard to the influence on participant security.
“For the FFR, LNR and Provale, the pink card is an important instrument that deters unsporting behaviour and protects the bodily integrity of gamers,” they stated.
“Reworking this sanction into a short lived expulsion may encourage harmful behaviour, thereby compromising participant security, which should stay absolutely the precedence.”
Noting that solely three pink 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 information has been collected can’t be thought of as a convincing motive for enchancment earlier than contemplating a worldwide implementation.”
Richie Arnold of Stade Toulousain leaves the sector after being proven a pink card in the course of the Champions Cup Ultimate. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photos)
The innovation was launched by New Zealand in 2020 in Tremendous Rugby to try 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 the brand new rule will encourage a extra fluid sport.
“The statistics supplied by the FFR to World Rugby present {that a} pink card isn’t systematically synonymous with defeat for the staff penalised,” they stated.
“In truth, an evaluation primarily based on 480 High 14 matches and worldwide matches in Tier 1 reveals that solely 60 per cent of groups proven a pink card misplaced the match.”
The FFR, LNR and Provale additionally raised considerations that the introduction of the 20-minute pink card might injury the picture of rugby because it may encourage extra aggressive play.
© AAP
