what is this ‘bunker’ rule that turned Scotland’s yellow card into a red?

2023-08-05 18:06:45

Wolrd Rugby has introduced a new officiating aid to decide whether a contentious action warrants a temporary or permanent dismissal.

In the 51st minute of this first match between Scotland and France, Scottish prop Zander Fagerson received a yellow card for a more than dangerous clearing on the head of Pierre Bourgarit. He was logically excluded for 10 minutes but, 5 minutes later, his yellow card turns into red. For what ? The Scot was ‘a victim’ of the new ‘bunker’ rule which can turn a yellow card into a red card. He is therefore definitively expelled for this head-to-head contact on the Rochelais hooker.

This is a new rule put in place by World Rugby, which was used in the last U20 World Cup and the Super Rugby recently won by the All Blacks. Now the field umpires remain the main decision-makers, but they can now refer fouls to a “Foul Play Review Officer” (FPRO), located in what is known as “the bunker” (in an isolated location), when a red card is not easy.

Avoid controversy in the stadium

This FPRO has eight minutes to decide whether or not the yellow card deserves to be turned into a red. A new arbitration system in order to avoid long minutes of waiting on the pitch and controversies with the public who previously saw the images of the disputed action broadcast on the big screens of the stadium.

This refereeing aid requires major technological means and has been under study since 2019. But it was impossible to test it in small competitions. If this technology is validated for the World Cup in France, the “bunker” would be based at Roland-Garros and the images would be produced by World Rugby.