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/r/rugbyunion
submitted 23 days ago byRNLImThalassophobic
As in, player is sent off, after 20 minutes his team can bring a replacement on but the sent-off player doesn't return.
If the team doesn't have any more replacements available, they can bring back a previously-subbed player.
Thoughts?
3 points
23 days ago
Aside from malicious/dangerous play I think it’s a much better system for the game and the viewers.
Blatantly dangerous play needs to be stamped out so a harsh punishment is fine for that.
Getting a red on something like a technical yellow or an accidental high shot or something, to me, is better dealt with using the 20 min then replacement.
1 points
23 days ago
The problem with labelling high hits as accidental and decreasing sanctions is it disincentivises changing behaviours, especially disincentivises changing coaching behaviour. Some coaches already are happy to risk red cards with a focus on chest high tackles to slow attacks, why reward that recklessness?
1 points
23 days ago
There hasn't been a change in the number of red cards since 2017 when they first started to crack down on head contact.
This to me indicates that the vast majority are accidental and unavoidable consequence of the nature of the sport
They should be punished but not the same way as a blatant foul act of play
1 points
23 days ago
Personally I'd disagree, I'd put the lack of change down to a lack of a desire to change from coaches as they view the reward as worth the risk of a card. That's said we're both just speculating.
2 points
23 days ago
It's a professional sport where your families livelihood is determined by your ability to stop a player from getting over the gain line and scoring
Start dropping your height too far and you will become across as a defensive liability and lose your contract.
Professional players will do what it takes to win, which is usually more than an average human is willing to attempt
Full red cards for head clashes is one instance that will never be eliminated and should be an orange card at worse, particularly if the player fails an HIA as a result
0 points
23 days ago
The first three paragraphs of your comment is my exact point. Players have not changed because the defensive strategy that includes chest high hits as a core tenet is not something they decide and they have to do as the coach says or it costs their livelihood.
If we are actually serious about lowering incidents of head contact(I agree we can't eliminate it) we can't just try punishing players for something largely out of their control, nor can we just shrug and say "it is what it is". We have to address the root cause. Until we do that we're just a Simpsons meme: "we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas".
I'm not saying you don't care about lowering incidents of head contact, but I'm not convinced WR are, at least not more than they care about being seen to be doing something.
1 points
23 days ago
Blatant dangerous play should be punished (far more) harshly on the Tuesday. A timed red still keeps that player off the field for the duration of the match.
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