Welsh rugby bosses have urged caution over the red card law trial that has been used in the southern hemisphere this season.
World Rugby have called for more leagues around the globe to adopt the project, which sees a sent off player replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes, so they can gather more data about the impact it has on the sport. Supporters of the new law believe it prevents matches being ruined as a spectacle, while detractors warn that it sends the wrong message over foul play.
The debate comes at a time when red cards, particularly for dangerous tackles, are becoming far more prevalent. United Rugby Championship head of officials Tappe Henning, meanwhile, seemed to be open to the idea of a trial, saying: "I believe we will get to an appropriate solution to protect our 80 minutes of rugby. We need to do a lot of research to come up with the best outcome. But I am big supporter of protecting 15 against 15 in some form of a decision about red cards."
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Those at the top of the game in Wales, though, were not so convinced.
Dragons boss Dean Ryan said: “I am old fashioned and if the consequences deserve red then the team deserves the penalty of going without a player. I think we are finding lots of reasons to try and mitigate everything down and we are in real danger of not managing the behaviour that red cards are there to deal with.
"At a time when player safety has probably never been clearer in our minds, I don’t understand why we are trying to mitigate a red card to not punish a team. I just don’t understand it. My reaction is the red card is there to penalise the team for an individual’s actions. To come back to 15 after 20 minutes, I just don’t understand.”
Ospreys boss Toby Booth, who insists he hasn't been consulted over various trials since taking up his post at a URC club, understands both sides of the debate but feels player safety should come first.
He said: "If it's a way of us understanding in the short-term that we're a bit more empathetic about tackle laws or getting tackle heights down, I understand it, but a red card is a red card. Everyone has a responsibility. I'm more interested in the consistency around what is a yellow and what is a red, understanding the mitigation and rugby collision injuries. I've spoken to the referees and they feel they don't have very much of an option. It's very formulaic.
"I understand why people would entertain that [the law trial], to smooth the passage a little bit. But ultimately our responsibility is to the safety of our players and the actions of people playing the game have to be conditioned. Because if you can't control your actions then you're going to potentially risk the welfare of a player. We all know that's of paramount importance."
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel was also asked for his views on the matter but wasn't willing to come down one way or the other.
He said: "Anything that makes the game more attractive, like the 50:22 rule, is good. We're not seeing it as regular as people thought we would, but it's a good advert. I've not seen it in play too much. I think there was one in the Crusaders game on the weekend, where (Scott) Barrett got sent off and they got a player back.
"But I'm not sure what to say about it. It's a bit of trial and error. If it makes the game more attractive and a better spectacle, getting someone sent off in the first minute kills the game sometimes. Having that opportunity to get someone back might help. I'm not sure."
