Law Change Everyone Demanded After Rugby World Cup Final Has Been Implemented

In the first half of the Stade de France showcase, the All Blacks captain, Sam Cane, made contact with Jesse Kriel's head with his shoulder.

Initially, referee Wayne Barnes sent Cane to the sin-bin, but upon review through the bunker system, the punishment was upgraded to a red card.

The idea of the 20-minute red card originated as a trial during the Super Rugby competition, with the intention of striking a balance between player discipline and ensuring teams aren't excessively disadvantaged by an early red card.

During the trial, a player who received a red card for foul play could be temporarily replaced by a substitute after spending 20 minutes off the field. This tactical substitution aimed to find a middle ground between maintaining a competitive match and penalizing severe violations of the game's rules.

Despite generating significant interest and debate during the trial, it was ultimately not extended to the Rugby World Cup.

One fan wrote: "Need to get some southern innovation and bring in the 20 minute red card - that way a decision like this won’t ruin the whole game."

A second commented: "Red card should be 20 minutes,"

Another said: "A different red card option is 20 minutes off, then a replacement player can come on. Better for the game & offender still suspended etc."

In the event foul play is determined to be deliberate and with a high level of danger it will result in a full red card for the offending player who will not return to the field nor be able to be replaced.

All other Red Cards that do not meet the above threshold will be 20 min Red Cards in which the offending player will be removed from the match but will be entitled to be replaced by another player after 20 minutes. The offending team will then be able to replace the red carded player with one of their available replacements.

Rationale: the individual, not the game, punished for red card offences.

a) Conversion & Penalty: A player will have 60 seconds to kick at goal [conversion] from when a try is scored; or 60 seconds to kick at goal [penalty] from time referee is informed of kick at goal option. If a player exceeds this time limit the conversion kick shall not count/be kicked – play restarts at the centre mark; for a Penalty a scrum is awarded to the non-kicking team at the place of the penalty.

b) Scrum: A scrum must be set 30 seconds from when the mark for scrum is made by the referee. A Free Kick shall be awarded at place of scrum against the team causing the delay.

c) Lineout: A lineout must be formed 30 seconds from the AR signalling the place of the lineout. A free kick shall be awarded on 15-metre line against team causing the delay.

Rationale: Speed up ball returning to play after a score, kick for touch or scrum.

Ruck: A player who was part of the ruck may not play an opponent who is near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away.  ‘Near’ is defined in Law as being “within one metre”. Sanction: Penalty

Maul: A player who is part of the maul may not play an opponent near it, and who is attempting to play the ball away.  Sanction: Penalty

Scrum: Once play in the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession must take up a position with both feet no further than the centre line of the tunnel; or permanently retires to a point on the offside line either at that team’s hindmost foot, or permanently retires at least five metres behind the hindmost foot. Sanction: Penalty.

Rationale – all three measures allow the scrum half, or player in that role, to play the ball away cleanly from the phase of play without disruption.

Law dictates that the ball must be thrown straight into the lineout.

However, if the defending team are not lifted to compete for the ball, then play shall continue in the instance a throw may appear not straight.

If the defending team lift a teammate to compete for the ball and a throw is not deemed not straight by referee then they shall be offered the option of a lineout or scrum. If the lineout is chosen and the ball is again not thrown straight, a scrum is awarded to the team that originally threw in the ball.

Rationale: Doesn’t force a stop in play where no material offence has taken place.