Warren Gatland weighs in on 20-minute red card rule ahead of Autumn Nations Series
Warren Gatland gave his view on the 20-minute red card.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has come out in support of the permanent adoption of World Rugby’s 20-minute red card ahead of the end-of-year internationals.
Referees will be able to use that facility during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, which kicks off on November 2 when England play host to New Zealand and Scotland tackle Fiji.
The 20-minute red card was trialled during the Rugby Championship and World Rugby U20 Championship this year but it hasn’t previously been seen in the northern hemisphere.
Good for the game
However, a variation will be available to match officials, who will retain the ability to show a permanent red card for foul play that is deemed to be deliberate and dangerous.
“I actually agree with it,” Wales head coach Gatland told BBC Scrum V when pressed for his view on the rule that will be on show during the upcoming Test fixtures next month.
“I think the 20-minute red card rule is good for the game because we are seeing players being yellow carded and potentially upgraded. A lot of that is just mistiming and it’s not that they’re trying to take anyone out.”
Officials will also have the option to award a 20-minute red card for technical offences, which differs from the stand-alone 20-minute red card proposal due to be discussed by the wider game in mid-November.
The red card variation ensures that players deemed to commit deliberate and dangerous offences receive the full sanctioning and subsequent disciplinary process, with the team being reduced to 14 men for the rest of the match.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has backed World Rugby's 20-minute red card trial 🏉
Hear more on the latest Scrum V podcast 🎧#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/7OdRQ0QRVD
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) October 22, 2024
The 20-minute element, meanwhile, will relate to an act of foul play that is not deliberate or intentional.
In these circumstances, the player will be removed from the field of play for the remainder of the game, with the offending side able to replace that player after 20 minutes, with one of their available substitutes taking the team back to 15 players.
Gatland backs rule
“To have a team penalised for the whole game or potentially 50 or 60 minutes for a red card which hasn’t been deliberate, I think takes away from the game. So I personally think that it’s a good rule to be introduced,” Gatland added.
“You can still give a full red card for genuine foul play like kicking or punching or biting or something like that where someone is intentionally trying to injury someone.”
Gatland’s opinion has differed to that of the French Rugby Federation and Irish Rugby Football Union, who have recently opposed the 20-minute red card trial.
