Wayne Barnes Breaks Silence on 20 minute red card, Reveals the Best Captain He's Ever Reffed
10/31/2024 05:36 PM
Rugby is evolving, and the days of “thuggery” are behind us. This shift is precisely why a 20-minute red card is set to be trialled in the northern hemisphere this November, following a successful test run in the Rugby Championship.
The Six Nations confirmed the trial's debut in October, a move championed by former referee Wayne Barnes.
Barnes Reflects on World Cup Red Cards
Recalling a pivotal moment, Barnes wrote I this column for The Telegraph:
“When I pulled out a red card in the Rugby World Cup final to inform the New Zealand team that their captain, Sam Cane, would not be returning to the pitch, I knew it would be a decision that would be associated with me and Sam for the rest of our lives.”
It wasn't the first time such a call made history. Red Roses winger Lydia Thompson was also red-carded early in a World Cup final due to a dangerous tackle just 18 minutes in, casting a shadow over her team's defeat.
A Pattern in Rugby's Biggest Matches
Barnes pointed to other examples, such as La Rochelle's Levani Botia's red card in the 2021 European Cup final and Beno Obano's early exit in last season's Premiership final. These crucial moments don't just influence the scoreboard; they weigh heavily on the players involved. Barnes notes:
“These huge decisions are not just significant points in the game, but are also significant points in these players' lives.”
Why the 20-Minute Red Card is a Fairer Option
According to Barnes, the new 20-minute red card rule will help distinguish between intentional and unintentional actions on the field. He acknowledges that, for incidents involving Cane and Thompson, for example, both players' techniques simply fell short:
“No one who watched either World Cup final would say either Cane or Thompson intentionally tried to tackle their opponent high; they simply got their technique wrong.”
How the 20-Minute Red Card Works
Here's how it will unfold in real-time: if an incident calls for a red card but lacks intent, the player will be permanently removed from the match. After 20 minutes, however, a replacement will step in, allowing the team to return to 15 players.
This "substantial" punishment, as Barnes puts it, still makes an impact but could prevent scenarios like Bath's prolonged disadvantage when Obano was carded against Northampton.
In rugby's new era, the 20-minute red card trial aims to ensure that players are held accountable without punishing entire teams for one player’s error.
Best captain her ever reffed
During a 2021 Q&A with Teddington Nub News, the famous whistleblower name checked three of the best skippers he’d refereed in his career up until that point.
#3. John Smit (South Africa)
A rugby legend hailing from South Africa, John Smit is renowned for his towering presence on the field and exceptional leadership skills. Born on April 3, 1978, Smit’s illustrious career as a hooker saw him captaining the Springboks to victory in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
With 111 caps for his country, he’s revered for his strength, agility, and strategic acumen. Beyond rugby, Smit is a respected figure in sports administration, having served as CEO of the Sharks rugby team and played a pivotal role in the development of rugby in South Africa.
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