Tweak to 20-minute red card trial doesn't go far enough

On Friday afternoon, the Six Nations confirmed a number of law trials which would be tested out during next month's Autumn Nations Series of games.

The biggest, and most controversial trial being rolled out will be the introduction of a 20-minute red card for certain offences.

An amendment of the closed trial used in the Rugby Championship, Pacific Nations Cup and World Rugby U20 championship earlier this year, this will now allow teams who have had a player sent off for a technical offence to bring on a replacement after a period of 20 minutes, if the act of foul play was deemed to be accidental.

For acts deemed deliberate, referees will still have the authority to issue a permanent sending off.

In explaining this, and the other trial laws being used in November, the press release from the Six Nations says it stems from "the ambition to simplify the game in key areas."

It’s hard to take that rationale at face-value, never mind the claim that reducing the sanction for a red card will "ensure player safety and welfare standards remain paramount".

For several seasons and for obvious reasons, the game’s gatekeepers have been taking a pretty hard line on head contact.

At grassroots and semi-pro level, there was a controversial lowering of the tackle height in 2023, which does appear to be changing behaviours after an initial bedding in process.

At the top of the game, there has been a clampdown on any tackles or collisions that involve the head, intentional or otherwise. It hasn’t been universally popular, particularly in New Zealand and Australia, where the current push for a 20-minute red card is being driven due to low numbers through the gates at Super Rugby level.

But while the current Head Contact Process is strict in its