World Rugby extends trials of 20-minute red card

The 20-minute red card, which has already been tried out in a number of competitions since the start of the northern hemisphere season, is to be tested across the board from this summer, World Rugby announced on Wednesday.

The measure will take effect from the U20 World Championships in June and the Women's World Cup which starts in August.

"The trial will operate in all elite competitions ahead of a final decision on permanent adoption in 2026," said World Rugby.

The 20-minute red card, which has already been tried out in the autumn test matches and in the men's and women's Six Nations tournaments, means that an offending player can be sent off for good, but can be replaced after 20 minutes to avoid penalising his team too much.

"The 20-minute red card aims to maintain the spectacle and competitive integrity of elite matches, while upholding rugby's unwavering commitment to player welfare," said World Rugby.

The new card has met with opposition from France in particular, which considers that it runs counter to the protection of players' health by not punishing dangerous actions harshly enough.