Red cards are clear signs that the alleged player has been sent off. Ever since the Rugby World Cup final in 2023, World Rugby changed the rule that a red card could mean a twenty minute sin bin.
However, French rugby has been trialling orange cards and it seems World Rugby is liking the idea.
French rugby is shaking things up this season — and supporters are starting to take notice.
Since the campaign kicked off, referees across the country have rolled out a brand-new orange card, handing out 20-minute suspensions, while scrapping the bunker review system entirely.
The move puts the power firmly back in the hands of the officials on the pitch, rather than leaving big calls to video review.
The experiment has been so well received that World Rugby is reportedly considering a global trial. Some confusion has already surfaced, though — particularly after Lood de Jager’s red card against France, when fans were unsure why South Africa couldn’t replace him.
The uncertainty over whether a red card meant a permanent dismissal or a temporary sanction highlighted the need for clearer communication — something the new orange card aims to fix ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Key Details of the Orange Card Trial
- Purpose: To bridge the gap between yellow (10 min) and red (permanent) cards, ensuring a 20-minute, non-returnable suspension.
- Application: Used for technical infringements, severe foul play that isn't deemed "intentional/highly dangerous" (thuggery) and second yellow cards.
- Replacement: The carded player is permanently off, but a substitute can join the game after 15–20 minutes, keeping the team at full strength.
- Referee Power: Re-empowers on-field officials, reducing reliance on the TMO/bunker for major decisions.
- Global Context: While heavily used in France, this is part of broader discussions for a global 20-minute red card trial in 2025
The new system also improves the fan experience, making it instantly clear from the stands whether a player is serving a 20-minute suspension or has been sent off for good.
French rugby has a ‘unanimous’ view on World Rugby’s controversial 20-minute red card law trial and plans to continue to fight its permanent implementation.
That is according to a joint statement from the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) and La Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), the top governing bodies in French rugby, who run the national teams as the top two club competitions, respectively.
The 20-minute red card was initially trialled in Super Rugby Pacific and then the Rugby Championship before it was approved for a global trial in all elite competitions in 2025.
Previously, any red card issued by a referee resulted in a team playing the remainder of the match with one less player. That was changed with the law trial, as after a 20-minute sin-binning period, the player sent off could be replaced by an available replacement after 20 minutes of playing time.
This went hand-in-hand with the Foul Play Review Officer, aka the Bunker, as the referee would issue a yellow card with the bunker, then decide whether the incident met the red card threshold and could upgrade the sanction.
It is widely understood that the SANZAAR nations have been in support of the 20-minute red card and want it permanently added to the lawbook but the Six Nations unions have resisted; with the French being among the most vocal. When the law was greenlit for a global trial, it was also tweaked to give the referee the power to still issue a permanent red card, which is believed to have been crucial to getting the trial pushed through.
"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," a World Rugby statement read in May last year when the global law trial was announced.
The French have remained vehemently opposed to the law and have rejected the claim that red cards ruin matches, with a 2024 statement from French federations reading: "Although some believe that this rule will promote smoother play, statistics provided by the FFR to World Rugby show that a red card does not systematically mean defeat for the penalised team."
"Indeed, the analysis based on 480 TOP 14 matches and Tier 1 international matches shows that only 60% of the teams receiving a red card lost at the end of the match."
Adding: "Turning this sanction into a temporary expulsion could encourage dangerous behaviour, thereby compromising player safety, which must remain the top priority."
Following French rugby’s own ‘Shape of the Game’ meeting, which brought together all stakeholders in French rugby, their opposition to the law trial has not wavered.
"French rugby, as a whole and with the unanimous support of all participants, reaffirmed the importance of opposing the 20-minute red card system as currently used by World Rugby, which, in its view, represents a major threat to the sport," a statement issued on Monday read.
"Thus, French rugby reiterates its desire to prevent the implementation of the 20-minute red card under the conditions of the ongoing experiment conducted by World Rugby."
I would welcome the orange card. I now get confused when a red card is dished out and the outcome of it. This new card will bring much more clarity to the game. There will be no confusion regarding the meaning and punishment.