THERE are not many sports as physical as rugby – and this is the reason why we have seen a number of red cards at the 2023 World Cup.
Referees have had their work cut out at the France tournament and they are trying their best to keep all 30 players on the field during a match.
GettyBen Lam of Samoa got sent off for a reckless high-challenge[/caption]
However, there have been several reckless challenges at the World Cup which have resulted in a red card.
How many red cards have there been at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
There have been SEVEN red cards at the 2023 Rugby World Cup so far.
England back-row Tom Curry kick-started the drama when he received a red card for a head-on-head high tackle with Argentinian Juan Cruz.
Namibia have seen both Desiderius Sethie and Johan Deysel sent off during their time at the World Cup.
But Samoa’s Ben Lam has been the most recent player to go for an early bath due to a head-on-high challenge against Japan.
Tom Curry – ENGLAND vs ArgentinaEthan de Groot – NEW ZEALAND vs NamibiaVincent Pinto – Wales vs PORTUGALJohan Deysel – France vs NAMIBIAVaea Fifita – Scotland vs TONGADesiderius Sethie – Uruguay vs NAMIBIABen lam – Japan vs SAMOA
What are the red card rules in rugby?
These are most commonly shown for foul or dangerous play with the player unable to continue and the team not being able to replace them, like in most sports.
With tackling a large part of rugby, referees often need to keep an eye to make sure that players’ health and safety are not being threatened excessively.
These could include by tackling players targeting the head or producing tackles in the air – in particular spear tackles that see players tip their opposite number head first towards the ground.
Other acts of foul play include biting, eye gouging and stamping.
But unlike other sports, sending offs in the Rugby World Cup do not bring an automatic punishment of missing a set number of games.
Instead, the red carded player must stand before a panel who decide firstly if the dismissal was correct, before deciding their punishment.
The severity of the foul play could lead to players missing several months of rugby, in particular eye gouging, with former England star Dylan Hartley previously suspended for 26 weeks.