Should rugby have a white card?
OPINION: In many instances, the difference between winning and losing comes down to one player’s error, a moment of brilliance, or a refereeing decision made or missed, which can define a team’s season and players’ livelihoods, writes Angus Opperman.
When the prestigious Varsity Cup tournament launched in 2008, the concept of a white card was introduced.
This allowed coaches and players to challenge a refereeing decision, with each team getting one referral per half, and if used successfully, the team retains their referral to use later in the half.
The concept resurfaced in the 2014 and 2022 play-offs of the tournament.
Picture this: It’s 2007, and the Bulls win a dodgy turnover off which Bryan Habana scores the match-winning try and snatch the Super Rugby title away from the Sharks.
How badly would the on-field captain or John Plumtree have loved to challenge that decision?
Later that year, the All Blacks were favourites to clinch the 2007 World Cup title, but a clear forward pass by France saw the hosts shock Richie McCaw’s men to beat New Zealand 20-18 in the quarterfinal.
Fast forward to 2011, the Springboks were denied a Pat Lambie try due to a forward pass call that was made on the spot by Bryce Lawrence, rather than letting play go on and checking the pass with the TMO.
If John Smit could’ve challenged that call, we could’ve looked at the Boks facing the All Blacks in the semifinal.
There are plenty more examples where teams will still ponder the ‘what if’s’, which led to losing a play-off or a crucial clash.
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The United Rugby Championship and Super Rugby Pacific tournament’s knock-out stages are fast approaching, and it might not be the worst idea to implement the white card.
To avoid every decision being challenged and wasting time, each team will get one referral per half.
Whether their referral was successful or not, they will not get another one for that half again, so captains will use it only if they really feel the officiating panel missed a crucial call against their side.
This could also be a long-term solution in the sport being implemented at all levels of the game.
We have seen the upside of the twenty-minute red card, where a team doesn’t get punished for the rest of the match for one player’s indiscretion or moment of madness.
For the sake of absolute clarity and reduced controversy, the white card could have a permanent place in Rugby Union.
It will have a positive impact on match outcomes, rather than teams and fans debating the result over that ‘one call’ in the aftermath.
