LONDON — In a significant update for the upcoming autumn international rugby series, referees will have the choice to implement 20-minute red cards.

Organizers announced on Friday that while permanent red cards can still be issued for actions classified as intentional and dangerous, the new option allows officials to issue a temporary 20-minute red card for various technical infractions.
The statement continued, “This rule adjustment will be tested throughout the Autumn Nation Series and is distinct from the stand-alone 20-minute red card proposal, which will be subject to further discussions in the rugby community later this year.”
Following successful trial runs, World Rugby indicated last week that the idea of allowing a substitution for a player who receives a red card after 20 minutes is increasingly likely to gain global support.

Nonetheless, the expelled player would not be eligible to re-enter the game after their removal.
This potential new regulation is part of a wider initiative aimed at improving the overall experience for both players and fans, according to World Rugby. The council has the opportunity to ratify these changes as early as next month, ideally with implementation on January 1st.
However, the French and Irish rugby federations expressed their disapproval regarding the permanent enactment of a 20-minute red card, citing concerns about player health and safety.
Julie Paterson, the chief executive for rugby at Six Nations Rugby, emphasized the importance of prioritizing player welfare in this trial. “Any trial or change will only proceed once we are assured that player safety is our highest priority,” she explained.
Paterson further added, “Our top priority is to safeguard players and their well-being, and the trials we are incorporating this November reflect that commitment.”
According to Six Nations Rugby’s guidelines, this new red card variation ensures that players guilty of serious violations still face full penalties, thereby maintaining a reduced team count of 14 players for the remainder of the match.