Your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, April 12.
Calls for 20-minute red card trial to expand
World Rugby has confirmed its hopes of introducing the 20 minute red card trial on a global scale.
The trial gives teams the opportunity to tactically replace a player who has been sent off after 20 minutes. The new law is being trialled in Super Rugby, with its supporters claiming that it would prevent games being ruined as spectacles by early dismissals.
However, the overall reaction to the suggestion in the northern hemisphere has been pretty negative and there are accusations that it undermines efforts to improve player safety in order to protect the game as a spectacle.
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“That’s been discussed before and will be discussed again,” World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin told The Telegraph.
“It would be great if more competitions, even in a closed trial, would use it because that would give us more of an overview of the effect it would have on the game.
“We need to see more of the data to see whether that strikes the balance between safety and spectacle better. I think there is more work to do to analyse that and the concern is if a team goes back to 15 players is that enough of a deterrent to drive that behavioural change. We would like to see it trialled more widely before drawing any conclusions.”
“We are trying to find that balance but it is really hard. We have sympathy for players who are making these decisions in a fraction of a second. It is hugely difficult for the match officials to find that balance as well in a game that is moving so quickly. It is a challenge that is ongoing but we have to make sure that player welfare at the top of the agenda and that means moving the game to a place where head contact is unacceptable.”
Latu cops 11 week ban
Australia international Tolu Latu has been banned for 11 weeks after his latest red card. He was sent off during last weekend's match between his Stade Francais side and Racing 92.
In his disciplinary hearing, Latu accepted the decision, which was given for tackling Racing lock Baptiste Chouzenoux in the air. The offence was given an entry point of 12 weeks which was initially reduced to 10 due to an admission of guilt and an apology from the player.
The ban was then bumped back up to 11 weeks due to Latu's poor disciplinary record. This was his second red card of the season and the hooker has also received six yellows.
Rowntree gets Munster gig
Former England international Graham Rowntree has been handed a promotion to the top job at Munster next season. Rowntree is currently the forwards coach at the province but will step into a head coaching role for the first time when Johann van Graan leaves this summer.
Though he has never held a top job, Rowntree's coaching CV is impressive, having held posts with Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, England, the British and Irish Lions and Georgia.
He has been at Thomond Park since 2019.
“I’m ready. It’s very much like the environment that I grew up with in Leicester. Very down to earth, humble group of people. Very passionate, a big supporter base who are mad about their rugby, enjoy the craic, say no more," said Rowntree.
“It’s excellent. It was a thorough process. All done now, we can crack on. Not that I was distracted by any means, but it was quite consuming.
“He’s (Van Graan) the boss until the 30th of June. Nothing changes on that coaching side of things, nothing changes in that dynamic. He’s the boss. I enjoy working for the man.”
