Premiership coaches believe existing red-card protocols should be changed in an effort to keep “15 v 15” on the field and avoid “destroying the game” after three major finals last season were marred by sendings-off.
The Bath prop Beno Obano was sent off midway through the first half of last season’s sold-out Premiership final – narrowly won by Northampton – while Sam Cane was dismissed during New Zealand’s World Cup final defeat by South Africa. Toulouse’s Richie Arnold also saw red in extra time of their Champions Cup final win over Leinster. All three were correct decisions according to the current laws but none were flagrant acts of violence.
