The World Rugby Council has today approved the global trial of the 20-minute red card in elite competitions. This decision follows an extensive review of successful closed trials conducted in international and elite club rugby over the past year.
The 20-minute red card aims to maintain the spectacle and competitive integrity of elite matches, while upholding rugby’s unwavering commitment to player welfare. The trial will operate in all elite competitions ahead of a final decision on permanent adoption in 2026.
Under this trial, a player who commits foul play that is not deemed deliberate or intentional will receive a red card and be permanently removed from the game. However, their team may return to a full complement after 20 minutes by bringing on one of their available replacements. This ensures that individual players – not the contest as a whole – bear the consequence of reckless actions.
Importantly, referees retain the authority to issue a full and permanent red card for any foul play considered deliberate and highly dangerous. Two yellow cards will constitute a 20 minute red card, unless the second offence meets the threshold for a full red card.
The 20-minute red card will join the suite of global law trials already in effect and will make its Rugby World Cup debut at the women’s event in England this August as well as being used in the U20 Championship in June.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said “Our mission is to ensure rugby is a compelling sport to play and watch. The 20-minute red card preserves the fairness and drama of elite competition by punishing the individual, not the entire team or the spectacle.
“Player welfare is non-negotiable. We monitor data around head injuries, tackle height, and concussion rigorously – and transparently. If evidence ever indicated this trial posed greater risk, we would end it immediately.”
In other measures, World Rugby Council approved a closed trial of a centralised disciplinary process, allowing for quicker and more consistent decision making.
Council also approved a measure so that from 2025, all law trials in the men’s game will begin on 1 August each year, ensuring that all international matches are played under the same set of law and trials regardless of where in the world they are played.
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