Super Rugby Pacific: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar calls for orange card

Brumbies head coach Dan McKellar has urged rugby’s administrators to introduce an orange card after Tom Banks received what McKellar described as a “ridiculous” red card during his team’s 39-38 victory over the Western Force in Perth on Friday.

The Wallaby full-back received his marching orders on the half-hour mark after an accidental clash of heads with Force wing Toni Pulu while the Pulu was trying to score a try.

Television replays showed that there was a slight deviation from Pulu which could have contributed to the head clash.

Apart from being red carded, Banks also sustained a facial fracture which could keep him sidelined for an extended period.

He was taken to hospital and is now waiting for the results of scans on his injury.

Because Super Rugby Pacific have implemented the experimental 20-minute red card rule, it meant Jesse Mogg replaced Banks but McKellar feels red cards should only be used for more serious infringements and that offending players should not be substituted.

He thinks orange cards – with a 20 minute penalty for offences like Banks’ – should be implemented with yellow cards to remain at 10 minutes while red cards should be used for deliberate foul play.

World Rugby has experimented with the idea of an orange card in the past.

“I’d have an orange card, a 20-minute orange card,” McKellar told AAP.

“And red card stays for deliberate foul play. You know, punching, gouging, whatever it may be.”

McKellar said even if that system was being used, he doesn’t think Banks should have been sent off as the clash of heads was accidental.

“Tom Banks doesn’t have a dirty bone in his body,” he said.

“Deliberate foul play – throw red cards at them all the time. But for accidents, for god’s sake, we’re going to