World Rugby is contemplating a significant trial involving a 20-minute red card, as part of several innovative proposals aimed at making the sport more appealing to a wider audience.
Under this proposal, a player receiving a red card would be substituted after 20 minutes of game time, which could be presented to the governing body’s council for approval in May.
Other potential rule changes include introducing a shot clock for scrums and lineouts, banning the ‘crocodile roll’ clearout at rucks, and reducing the tackle height in elite matches to below the chest level.
Referees have also been instructed to prompt players to use the ball quicker during breakdowns to speed up the game and eliminate ‘caterpillar rucks’, while tightening regulations on water-carriers entering the field.
These recommendations stem from World Rugby’s recent ‘shape of the game’ forum, aimed at enhancing the entertainment value of rugby.
The introduction of 20-minute red cards aims to penalize offending players and their teams without excessively disrupting the match, especially after an early dismissal. This rule has been successful in trials in the southern hemisphere, such as in Super Rugby Pacific.
Additionally, there are plans to expand the use of a shot clock, currently employed for penalties and conversions, and encourage further closed-law trials by unions and competition organizers.
These closed-law trials may include variations such as restarting play after a maul is stopped once instead of twice, offering more protection to scrum-halves, and allowing play to continue if a lineout isn’t straight but the throw is uncontested.
Furthermore, a specialized working group will assess the impact of reducing the tackle height in community rugby in 2023 to determine its suitability for elite levels of the sport.
The role of television match officials and the usage of replacements will also undergo evaluation.
Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby chairman, expressed the organization’s commitment to evolution, aiming to increase global relevance, enhance entertainment, and simplify rugby for new fans. He looks forward to the forthcoming discussions.
World Rugby’s council is set to review the recommendations from the ‘shape of the game’ forum at its upcoming meeting on May 9, although some measures may require further deliberation.