Six Nations referees have vowed to attain “better consistency” round officiating of foul play on this 12 months’s match after a spate of controversial incidents within the autumn.

The November internationals had been dogged by various interpretations of what constitutes a crimson card, yellow card, and 20-minute crimson card.

Among the many many incidents, South Africa’s Franco Mostert was given a everlasting crimson for a harmful sort out towards France, which was rescinded, whereas Eire’s Tadgh Beirne additionally had a 20-minute crimson card overturned.

On the eve of this 12 months’s Six Nations, World Rugby have clarified that full crimson playing cards might be reserved for “acts of thuggery”, with 20-minute reds given for “technical offences” for instance within the sort out.

The sport’s governing physique have admitted there was an “inconsistency of utility” through the November window and have labored with the referees since then to enhance the dealing with of foul play.

The 20-minute crimson playing cards had been launched as a manner of sanctioning gamers with out overly influencing the result and spectacle of a match.

The participant who receives a 20-minute crimson card can’t return to the sphere of play, however will be changed by one other participant after 20 minutes.

The on-field referee will initially give a yellow card, with the foul play assessment officer or “bunker official” making the decision whether or not it must be upgraded.

Making head contact within the sort out and harmful challenges within the air are offences which meet the edge for a 20-minute crimson card.

“The 20-minute crimson card is for when a participant will get it improper within the sort out, an upright sort out, these type of kind of cases within the sport,” defined high referee Angus Gardner.

“The foul play assessment officer is the one that comes to a decision whether or not the yellow card is upgraded to twenty minutes.”

Gardner has additionally clarified that whereas everlasting crimson playing cards can nonetheless be given for egregious acts of foul play, they will solely be given by the on-pitch referee and can’t be given by the bunker official.

A everlasting crimson card might be give for offences similar to kicking, stamping, punching, making contact with the attention or intentionally concentrating on decrease limbs within the ruck.