Forty matches in (but only 37 played), the plethora of brilliant games has brought about a blurring of the lines of what can be deemed “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” teams. Yes: I am talking of the Rugby World Cup, a tournament that people across the world have devoted their autumn to and a tournament that I could dissect match by match, play by play, and player by player.
Georgian Scrum-Half Vasil Lobzhanidze participated in the 2015 edition of the tournament aged 18. He then went on to represent his country’s U20 side at the next World Rugby U20 Championship. Making him the first player to ever appear at the senior tournament before its junior counterpart.
Although I could break the whole tournament down in that way, there is only one specific part of the game I want to talk about. Red Cards. So far there have been eight red cards in this tournament and we have only just left the group stages behind. Now eight red cards in forty matches does not sound like much but when put in the context of past tournaments it is sorry state of affairs.
England 2015: 48 Matches – 1 Red Card
New Zealand 2011: 48 Matches – 2 Red Cards
France 2007: 48 Matches – 2 Red Cards
Australia 2003: 48 Matches – 0 Red Cards
Wales 1999: 41 Matches – 4 Red Cards
South Africa 1995: 38 Matches: – 4 Red Cards
England/Wales/Scotland/Ireland/France 1991: 32 Matches – 2 Red Cards
New Zealand/Australia 1987: 32 Matches – 2 Red Cards
So why is it that this year’s tournament has seen so much of the crimson card? Have the players become more violent? Have they got become more stupid? Maybe some players have taken exception to some of their opponents (*cough* Owen Farrell *cough*)? To all of the above (except maybe the latter) the answer is a resounding no. It is due to stronger scrutiny of the high tackle laws; player welfare within the game of rugby is paramount and World Rugby (Rugby’s governing body not some Rugby utopia) have come down hard with the recently tweaked rules. These tweaks were made to lessen the number of head related injuries, namely concussions, within the game. According to the Journal of Athletic Training 25% of all injuries sustained in rugby can be attributed to concussions. Due to the horrors that we now know thanks to the research done into CTE, and other impact related head traumas, World Rugby have had to take a stance and rewrite their laws concerning impact to an opponents head and neck area.
Alongside the red cards being dished out, the World Rugby’s Citing Commission has been working overtime in order to hand out punishments post match. With regards to red cards it is just a formality and a foregone conclusion that the offending player shall receive a couple of weeks sat upon the naughty step. With yellow cards, of which there have been 24 so far, the citing commission may decide that their breach of the laws may deserve a larger punishment and hand the player a multiple week ban. So far we have seen 28 weeks of bans handed down to players for these dangerous infringements, a number that will no doubt rise once Bundee Aki’s red card has gone through the commission.
Within the frameworks created by World Rugby they have stated “see mitigating factors”. These mitigating factors can be the difference between a penalty and a yellow and even a yellow and a red card. There have been such instances within this World Cup that have made for quite contentious debate among pundits and fans alike. See Samu Kerevi’s illegal hand off of Rhys Patchell, having led with the forearm the referee rightfully gave a penalty and sent it to the TMO to check if the penalty was anything more. Luck was on the big centre’s side in that moment as the refereeing team deemed that he made contact with the tackler’s chest before it rose up to his jaw. The incident did not need any harsher discipline and was deemed to be a penalty only.
It is a dangerous game, I know that more than a lot of people, but it’s the prerogative of referees and World Rugby to make it as safe as possible. Allowing the brilliantly skilled men and women who put their bodies on the line for our entertainment to have a life beyond the white line. Yes, going to the TMO multiple times a match slows the game but it protects the players and the integrity of the sport. These rules will keep the game I love away from the controversy and darkness of the incidents that come out of American Football and Pro Wrestling, with incidents of CTE related suicides and homicides having skyrocketed in the mid to late 00’s. A mirroring of these same horrors in a much more global sport would turn many a fan away.
Rhys Ash Powell 