Nigel Owens weighs in on 20-minute red card debate

Former international referee Nigel Owens has weighed in on the debate on the 20-minute red cards.

Recent reports state that World Rugby is considering the idea that is being trialled in Super Rugby Pacific. The current trail allows a player who has been dismissed to be replaced after 20 minutes. Allowing the game to resume to 15v15 after 20 minutes.

Commenting on the possibility of the law being introduced permanently in his latest Daily Telegraph column, Owens said "Personally, I feel the 20-minute red card is not a good idea. If you want to create change in player behaviour and for coaches to change the way they coach tackle technique, then you have to stay firm with clamping down on strict punishments for contact to the head.

A 20-minute red card papers over the cracks - it is totally wrong, and if we go down that route then rugby is going to be in trouble | @Nigelrefowens https://t.co/GlKZTzNf4d

— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) April 13, 2022

"Most people now abide by the speed limit. Imagine if you only had a £10 or £20 fine for going over the speed limit as opposed to three points on your licence and a £100 fine - there would be a lot more people less concerned about being caught. The harsher punishment makes you really think twice. Those measures were brought in for safety on the roads, just as red cards in rugby are all about improving player safety.

"The part which I don't understand is that you will hear talk about players being unlucky to be sent off, and that therefore you need a 20-minute card as a solution. Well, my response would be that if a player is unlucky to be sent off, then he shouldn't be sent off.

"Red cards should be for total acts of recklessness or thuggery - if you come running in from a distance with your arm by your side and your shoulder slams into the head or neck area of a defenceless player, for example. That is dangerous play. Whereas if someone is very unlucky - you tried to make a legal tackle but the timing was wrong, or you try to clear someone out but you slip at the last minute or the player moves - then that player should not be sent off, because there are mitigating factors which make the contact accidental.

"The last thing the sport needs is a situation where a player runs in and headbutts an opponent in the opening minutes, only for the offender to then be replaced 20 minutes later by a substitute. In situations like that, your team does not deserve to go back to 15 players."