Concussions has been the biggest threat to rugby over the past decade. Every year there's more ex-pros coming out saying they are suffering from long term effects of head injuries and lawsuits threaten the future of the game.
That's why World Rugby have tried to clamp down on high tackles and head on head collisions, with last weekend being a prime example. Toulouse's Rory Arnold was sent off in extra time for a high clearout on Leinster's Cian Healy in a collision which 15 years ago would've been ignored.
Fans have become accustomed to these incidents being penalised and punished with cards. That's why there was backlash when on Saturday a head on head collision was just given as a penalty and no card was handed out.
In a match between the Blues and the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific Chiefs flanker Luke Jacobson dove over a ruck and hit Blues scrum-half Finlay Christie head on head. To many European rugby fans it was a straight forward red card but the decision was just a penalty with no cards given.
“Just a penalty” pic.twitter.com/RPmhLwcYGY
— Riaan Louw (@Ringo26) June 1, 2024
Super Rugby Pacific doesn't have the best reputation with player safety. The unions down there have been trying to clamp down on the amount of red cards given as they feel the punishment of losing a player for the rest of the match is too harsh and too many matches are decided because of red cards.
They now have a 20-minute red card system, where a team only goes down a player for 20 minutes before subbing on a replacement for the rest of the game. This system is not in place in European leagues and it's not a popular system with fans in Europe as many feels it doesn't deter high hits and isn't a fitting punishment.
Fans on Twitter ridiculed the on-field call and questioned why Super Rugby Pacific doesn't punish these incidents more.
Don't forget kids, 20 minute red cards are a sufficient deterrent. 👍 https://t.co/eCqGrE8LCv
— Proper Rugby Kino (@RugbyKino) June 1, 2024
Should be a ban loading if the SRP disciplinary panel actually works.
Don’t hold your breath. https://t.co/2zPFIOKRlc
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) June 1, 2024
Like that's a textbook red surely https://t.co/66kFd9QFsl
— The 2nd Row (@the2ndRow) June 1, 2024
It's not a great look for Super Rugby Pacific and it'll be interesting to see if Jacobson gets cited. We don't want to see players suffer long-term effects of concussions and the game needs to try protect players as much as they can.
READ ALSO: Sam Prendergast Chuffed To Share The Pitch With Brother Cian As Leinster Beat Connacht
