In unison, the FFR, the LNR and Provale expressed this Monday their strong opposition to the adoption of the 20 minute red card rule and fought for the maintenance of the definitive expulsion of the sanctioned player.
The French authorities call on World Rugby to rely on convincing data before amending such a crucial sanction, particularly regarding the impact on player safety.
They believe that testing this rule change in just four competitions cannot be considered a compelling reason for improvement to consider global implementation. They cite as an example the recent U20 World Championship, where only three red cards were handed out, making the findings meaningless, in their opinion.
“The red card is an essential tool to discourage dangerous behavior on the pitch and ensure the safety of our players. Reducing this sanction to a temporary 20-minute ban would weaken our ability to protect the physical integrity of athletes and maintain fair play, fundamental values of rugby. We ask World Rugby to reconsider this experiment, ensuring that any decisions are based on concrete and convincing data, which is not the case today. »
Decisive match at World Rugby on November 14th
In terms of the impact on the game, particularly the idea that this rule will promote smoother play, statistics provided by the FFR to World Rugby show that a permanent red card does not consistently equate to defeat for the penalized team. Analysis based on 480 matches from Top 14 and Tier 1 international matches shows that only 60% of teams who received a red card lost at the end of the match.
In terms of safety, the French authorities maintain that “the red card is a crucial tool that discourages unsportsmanlike behavior and protects the physical integrity of players”. They believe that “turning this sanction into a temporary expulsion could encourage dangerous behavior, thus compromising player safety, which must remain the top priority.”
They add that “this rule would mark an unacceptable step backwards compared to the measures put in place for several years to reduce head impacts and encourage players to have greater technical mastery in contact”.
Finally, in terms of image, French leaders believe that “the implementation of this rule could encourage more aggressive play or create controversies related to the tactical exploitation of the rule, thus negatively impacting the image of rugby”.
The FFR announces that it will speak out against the entry into force of this trial of this rule of the game at the World Rugby Council meeting on 14 November 2024.
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