There are also concerns that it will undermine player safety and compromise the future of the game, particularly in regards to the ongoing lawsuit against the game’s governing bodies, including World Rugby.

“Moving forward with the 20 minute red card is a genuinely backwards idea, and the decision to not put player safety first could really bite World Rugby on the arse when the concussion lawsuit hits them,” analyst Will Owen wrote.

No fan support for law

World Rugby have claimed that they are putting fans at the heart of their law amendments but that statement has been mocked on social media.

As a person put it: “‘Fan-focused’??? I don’t claim to have a huge following or following that many people, but my account is rugby centric, and I have yet to come across a ‘fan’ that supports the 20min red card.”

While everyone agrees that certain aspects of the game can be improved, the ball-in-play metric World Rugby have constantly referred to does not necessarily equal a better sport.

“Why are you trying to make the game more and more like Rugby League when outside of Australia and the M62 corridor Union is by far the more popular sport? It should be the other way around,” another fan wrote.

World Rugby have received a huge backlash after confirming that the 20-minute red card has been recommended for a global trial.

The governing body announced on Tuesday a series of proposals which they say are “aimed at enhancing both fan and player experience.”

That includes measures to speed up the game, such as reducing the time taken for conversions and a shot clock for scrums and lineouts.

Few are disputing those law amendments, with supporters understanding the need to find ways to improve some of the frustrating aspects of the game.

However, World Rugby have also suggested other ideas, including single-stop mauls, calling a mark inside the 22 from a restart and the red card law, which allows a team to replace a player that has been sent off after 20 minutes.

All those proposals have come under fire but particularly the red card law amendment, which has drawn the ire of supporters.

‘A bloody joke’

“No-one wants or likes 20 minute red cards. It was trialled at the U20s and it was a bloody joke,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added: “20 mins red card is a joke. A red card for a dangerous act against another professional should mean you are sent off.

“It gives the rest of the team a chance to dig in and make amends – sometimes the best team performance is by 14 players.”

It is a law which has been pushed hard by Australia and New Zealand, with it trialled in both Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship.

“This 20 minute red card rubbish has to be 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed stone dead. I don’t know who’s 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 this is, that it keeps getting foisted on the wider game but it is not needed nor wanted, and makes a mockery of discipline,” another fan wrote.

There are also concerns that it will undermine player safety and compromise the future of the game, particularly in regards to the ongoing lawsuit against the game’s governing bodies, including World Rugby.

“Moving forward with the 20 minute red card is a genuinely backwards idea, and the decision to not put player safety first could really bite World Rugby on the arse when the concussion lawsuit hits them,” analyst Will Owen wrote.

No fan support for law

World Rugby have claimed that they are putting fans at the heart of their law amendments but that statement has been mocked on social media.

As a person put it: “‘Fan-focused’??? I don’t claim to have a huge following or following that many people, but my account is rugby centric, and I have yet to come across a ‘fan’ that supports the 20min red card.”

While everyone agrees that certain aspects of the game can be improved, the ball-in-play metric World Rugby have constantly referred to does not necessarily equal a better sport.

“Why are you trying to make the game more and more like Rugby League when outside of Australia and the M62 corridor Union is by far the more popular sport? It should be the other way around,” another fan wrote.

“Also NFL ball in play time is far lower than Rugby and yet NFL is wildly popular.”

Meanwhile, one person summed up the feelings of many as they attacked the ‘arrogant’ governing body.

“Whatever we the fans say below, World Rugby has absolute no interest in what fans want. They have their agenda and they will continue with it. The arrogance of this organization is astonishing,” they wrote.