Bristol’s Pat Lam in favour of rugby introducing 20-minute red cards

One of the Premiership’s leading coaches believes the introduction a 20-minute red card could help reduce the growing unease about the fairness of rugby’s disciplinary sanctions. World Rugby are understood to be considering the idea of a global trial and the Bristol director of rugby, Pat Lam, is among those who would back the proposal.

Following a crackdown on upright tackles and head contact, there have been an increasing number of controversial red cards this season, not least Charlie Ewels’ second-minute dismissal for England against Ireland at Twickenham last month. Under an experimental law being trialled in Super Rugby, a sent-off player can be tactically replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes, thus restoring their side to full strength.

The counter argument is that diluting the sting of a red card gives offenders less reason to improve their tackle technique, instantly undermining the game’s push for greater player safety. Lam, however, says there are now so many red cards being shown that sides are being punished to an unfair degree.

“Red cards used to be for out and out foul play … someone punching someone or a real dangerous situation,” said Lam, whose Bristol side face Sale at Ashton Gate on Friday in the second leg of their Heineken Champions Cup last-16 tie. “But with the current laws around tackle height we’re seeing a lot of stuff. The rule is probably a good idea with the amount of red cards out there. Pretty much every week someone is getting a red card.”

Lam, though, feels the lack of consistency surrounding some refereeing decisions is “the bigger issue” surrounding the sport. Last weekend Leinster’s Jameson Gibson-Park received only a yellow card for a dangerous upright tackle on Connacht’s Kieran