Rugby Australia and the British and Irish Lions have agreed to use the 20-minute red card in their upcoming Test series, and, in a bid to prevent a repeat of the anti-climactic drawn Lions-All Blacks series in 2017, RA are also pushing for golden point in the three-Test series.
The rule tweaks were revealed as RA boss Phil Waugh also backed the concept of a World Club Challenge tournament in 2028, but said Super Rugby participants still had to work out how it could potentially fit into an already crowded calendar.
Waugh returned to Sydney on Monday after a week of meetings in Cardiff with World Rugby members, and also with Lions management, ahead of the fast-approaching tour in June, July and August.
After World Rugby announced it would extend the trial of the 20-minute red card to all elite global competitions after August 1, RA and the Lions struck an agreement to use the same foul play processes in the Lions tour.
Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship have used the 20-minute red card for several years, but the Six Nations only used it for the first time this year.
The 20-minute red card – which allows a sent-off player to be replaced after 20 minutes and returns the game to 15-on-15 – has been strongly supported by southern hemisphere nations, to ensure a game is not ruined by an early red card.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is looking forward to the arrival of the British and Irish LionsCredit: Getty Images
In the second Test of Lions’ tour of New Zealand in 2017, Sonny Bill Williams was red-carded in the 25th minute for a shoulder charge. The Lions won 24-21.
“[Wallabies coach] Joe [Schmidt] has been quite overt around the fact that one of the roles of this tour is based around entertainment and fan engagement, and he has been a big advocate for some time around the benefits of the 20-minute red card,” Waugh said.
“We’ve been supporting that and advocating for that, and being very vocal in our support for the 20-minute red card.”
The 2017 series has also been a factor in RA urging Lions management for this year’s series to have golden point extra time, to ensure a winner. The third Test saw the All Blacks and Lions play out a 15-15 draw, and the stony-faced captains both held up the trophy in a tied series.
Low moment: Williams walks from the field after his red card during the second Test against the Lions.Credit: AP
“We’ve had some really constructive conversations,” Waugh said.
“That’s got to go to the Lions board around whether it’s a drawn series, or you decide it through Golden Point or extra time.”
Super Rugby introduced “Superpoint” this year, where teams play an extra 10 minutes of golden point time to find a winner before a draw is declared. The Waratahs scored a 90th-minute match-winner in Perth at the weekend.
“Our preference, if we put the fans at the centre of everything we’re doing, I think that the familiarity that everyone has with ‘Superpoint’ and the interest for that in our market is a good guide. Obviously, we will be making sure both parties agree. But I think that if you’re thinking about some fan engagement, that’s certainly very appealing.”
Reports in the UK said, after talks last week, there had been agreement for a World Club Championship to finally get off the ground in 2028, with a 16-team competition that could see powerhouse clubs like Leinster and Toulouse take on the Crusaders and Brumbies.
Waugh said talks were positive about the proposed competition, but Super Rugby nations had not yet signed up, and the priority was to ensure the revived Super Rugby Pacific competition is not compromised by making changes to the season schedule.
“But equally, how do you complement that with a World Club Challenge concept?” Waugh said.
“I think it can drive real interest. There’s definitely an opportunity there. It’s a great concept.”
The competition, which would likely run for a month, is proposed to be played in June.
Waugh said Super Rugby’s preference would be to not cut back the season, so the new competition would require Super Rugby to move round one to the heat of mid-January. It currently starts in early February, with the final played in late June.
