World Rugby introduces orange card

As rugby’s global governing body continues to prepare for the return of the game, the organisation has come up with an interesting way as a means to curb the potential transmission of the coronavirus between players in form of an orange card.

The option of the orange card will be exercised at a potential red card tackle offence. The recipient of an orange card will be removed from the field of play for 15 minutes pending a TMO review. If a tackle is deemed as a yellow card offense from the TM review, the player will be allowed to return to action after 15 minutes.

In cases where a tackle warrants a red card during a review, the player will not be allowed to return.

The orange card forms part of a new 10 law temporary trial introduced by the governing body to create the safest possible environment for players. Implementation by unions will be entirely based on their territory-specific requirements and respective government advice and directives.

World Rugby chairperson Sir Bill Beaumont said: ?World Rugby is committed to evidence-based injury and infection preventative measures and we are fortunate to have such strong, forward-thinking and effective medical and research structures that inform our approach.

“The health and well-being of the rugby family is paramount. We have extensively evaluated the perceived risk areas within the game. This has enabled an evidence-based assessment of risk areas and playing positions, which led us to develop temporary law amendments, complementing the extensive return-to-play guidance we published earlier this month.

“Unions can apply to implement one or more of these amendments on a domestic basis according to the respective government directives relating to Covid-19. I would like to thank everyone for their full commitment to this process which will aid safe return to rugby activities at all levels.”

The full list of the temporary law trial:

• Scrapping of scrum resets
• Hookers must use a “brake foot” to aid scrum stability
• No scrum option for a penalty or free-kick
• Goal line drop out when an attacker is held up in-goal or knocks on in-goal
• Introduction of an orange card for red card offences
• Remove choke tackle and reward for defensive team
• Limit ruck “use it”  duration time from five to three seconds
• No scrum for failure to “use it” at scrum, ruck or maul
• No player can join a maul if not in it from the start
• Only one forward movement during a maul

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