French rugby has doubled down on its opposition to World Rugby’s 20-minute red card trial, warning it poses a “major threat” to the sport, specifically around player welfare.
In a joint statement, the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) and Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) confirmed a unified stance against making the trial law permanent, Planet Rugby reports.
The 20-minute red card trial was introduced in elite competitions in 2025.
It allows a player sent off and to be replaced after 20 minutes, a significant shift from the traditional sanction that leaves a team a player short for the remainder of the match.
However, French rugby has rejected the notion that permanent red cards ruin contests.
“Although some believe that this rule will promote smoother play, statistics provided by the FFR to World Rugby show that a red card does not systematically mean defeat for the penalised team,” a previous statement read.
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“Indeed, the analysis based on 480 TOP 14 matches and Tier 1 international matches shows that only 60% of the teams receiving a red card lost at the end of the match.”
More critically, the French argue the 20-minute red card could have unintended consequences.
“Turning this sanction into a temporary expulsion could encourage dangerous behaviour, thereby compromising player safety, which must remain the top priority,” they stated.
French rugby recently held its own Shape of the Game summit and emerged with their position unchanged.
“French rugby, as a whole and with the unanimous support of all participants, reaffirmed the importance of opposing the 20-minute red card system as currently used by World Rugby, which, in its view, represents a major threat to the sport,” the FFR’s latest statement read.
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“Thus, French rugby reiterates its desire to prevent the implementation of the 20-minute red card under the conditions of the ongoing experiment.
“French rugby actively advocates for the following recommendations for changes: That the referee be able to issue a 20-minute red card directly on the field; That the bunker be able to issue a permanent red card; That the name of the card [20-minute] be changed, perhaps even to an orange card.”
Southern hemisphere nations are largely in favour of the 20-minute red card, with opposition coming from countries in the north.
Photo: Xavier Laine/Getty Images
The post French not backing down from red-card fight appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
French rugby has doubled down on its opposition to World Rugby’s 20-minute red card trial, warning it poses a “major threat” to the sport, specifically around player welfare.
The post French not backing down from red-card fight appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
