THE UNITED RUGBY Championship will adopt the global World Rugby trial of the 20-minute red card law for the 2025/26 season. If a player commits foul play that reaches the red card threshold but is not deliberate or ‘always illegal’, they will receive a 20-minute red card. Two yellow cards to the same player in one match will also equal a 20-minute red card. In addition, in instances where the referee shows a yellow card but signals an off-field review, the TMO now has the option when reviewing the footage of recommending that the sanction be upgraded to a 20-minute red card. They cannot upgrade a yellow card to a permanent red card – only the referee can give a permanent red card.