World Rugby is planning one of the biggest shake-ups ever to the sport by introducing a 20-minute red card.

The major game-changing innovation follows a weekend that saw a number of controversial refereeing decisions and a call for a change in the disciplinary laws. The new ruling, which is being trialled in Super Rugby, means the sent-off player can be tactically replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes.

Supporters believe it stops matches being ruined as spectacles by early red cards while the sent-off player is still subject to a possible suspension. Some Rugby Football Union insiders have indicated they would back it prepared to back it after England lock Charlie Ewels was sent off after 82 seconds against Ireland in the Six Nations. 

However, there is also a concern that it could lessen the deterrent effect, particularly at a time when World Rugby is determined to keep lowering tackle heights. So far the Super Rugby trial has proved inconclusive which is why chief executive Alan Gilpin is weighing up whether to extend it into a global law trial. 

“That’s been discussed before and will be discussed again,” Gilpin told Telegraph Sport. “It would be great if more competitions, even in a closed trial, would use it because that would give us more of an overview of the effect it would have on the game. 

“We need to see more of the data to see whether that strikes the balance between safety and spectacle better. I think there is more work to do to analyse that and the concern is if a team goes back to 15 players is that enough of a deterrent to drive that behavioural change. We would like to see it trialled more widely before drawing any conclusions.”