Six Nations referees have vowed to realize “larger consistency” round officiating of foul play on this yr’s match after a spate of controversial incidents within the autumn.
The November internationals had been dogged by various interpretations of what constitutes a pink card, yellow card, and 20-minute pink card.
Among the many many incidents, South Africa’s Franco Mostert was given a everlasting pink for a harmful deal with towards France, which was rescinded, whereas Eire’s Tadgh Beirne additionally had a 20-minute pink card overturned.
On the eve of this yr’s Six Nations, World Rugby have clarified that full pink playing cards shall be reserved for “acts of thuggery”, with 20-minute reds given for “technical offences” for instance within the deal with.
The sport’s governing physique have admitted there was an “inconsistency of software” in the course of the November window and have labored with the referees since then to enhance the dealing with of foul play.
The 20-minute pink playing cards had been launched as a manner of sanctioning gamers with out overly influencing the result and spectacle of a match.
The participant who receives a 20-minute pink card can not return to the sphere of play, however may be changed by one other participant after 20 minutes.
The on-field referee will initially give a yellow card, with the foul play assessment officer or “bunker official” making the decision whether or not it needs to be upgraded.
Making head contact within the deal with and harmful challenges within the air are offences which meet the brink for a 20-minute pink card.
“The 20-minute pink card is for when a participant will get it fallacious within the deal with, an upright deal with, these type of sort of situations within the sport,” defined prime referee Angus Gardner.
“The foul play assessment officer is the one that decides whether or not the yellow card is upgraded to twenty minutes.”
Gardner has additionally clarified that whereas everlasting pink playing cards can nonetheless be given for egregious acts of foul play, they’ll solely be given by the on-pitch referee and can’t be given by the bunker official.
A everlasting pink card shall be give for offences equivalent to kicking, stamping, punching, making contact with the attention or intentionally focusing on decrease limbs within the ruck.
