Sanzaar has confirmed that it will be reintroducing the 20-minute red card law trial for the 2022 Rugby Championship, in which a red-carded player can be replaced after 20 minutes.

The controversial law trial, which has been criticised for not being enough of a deterrent against deliberate foul play, allows a player to be replaced 20 minutes after he has been red-carded.

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The law was implemented on a trial basis throughout Super Rugby competitions in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as well as the Rugby Championship in 2021.

However, it was not part of the European club competitions, including the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, and World Rugby opted against allowing it for the recently concluded July internationals.

According to a statement from Sanzaar, the red-card law trail was supported by all four national unions.

” As a group we firmly believe the integrity of international matches is very important and that wherever possible matches must be a contest of fifteen versus fifteen,” said Sanzaar CEO Brendan Morris.

“Within the context of the games’ laws, Sanzaar believes that a 20-minute red card allows for a significant deterrent to deliberate acts of foul play, while it also protects the contest of fifteen on fifteen, which is what our unions, broadcasters and fans are telling us is important.

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“Sanzaar stands alongside World Rugby’s important work on managing foul play and player welfare and will conduct a formal research project across the 2022 TRC period with all comparative findings to be shared with World Rugby at the end of the season.

“The aim is to gather the necessary information that allows the 20-minute red card trial to be accepted into the full laws of the game in the future.”

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