How do red cards work, and does the 20-minute red card apply in community rugby?

Question

Accepted Answer

No. In the 2026 World Rugby Laws, the 20-minute red card (where a sent-off player can be replaced after 20 minutes of playing time, except for intentional or highly dangerous acts) is marked "Elite rugby only". In English community rugby (Law 9.29-9.30): A player shown a red card takes no further part in the match and can't be replaced, so the team plays a player short for the rest of the game. A second yellow-card offence in the same match is a sending off, and play restarts with a penalty. After the match (RFU Regulation 19): Send the red card report to the CB Disciplinary Secretary and your Referee Society by 9am on the second day after the match (Men's Regional 1 and below, Women's Championship 1 and below). The player can't play until their case has been heard by a disciplinary panel, and any suspension applies to all forms of the game, anywhere. At the hearing, if the player disputes that the act warranted a red card, the burden is on the player to show the referee was wrong.