Over the last couple of seasons, World Rugby have desperately tried to stamp down on high tackles due to a number of past players ending up with long term brain injuries from hits taken across their careers. On Friday, during a clash in a Super Rugby game, it was evident that rugby's governing body still have a lot of work to do.
In the Six Nations, opinions were split with a number of decisions made by officials questioned by rugby fans around the globe.
Most notably, Freddie Steward's tackle on Hugo Keenan - which was eventually rescinded - during the final round of the 2023 Six Nations sent social media into overdrive with people's opinions differing on the right course of punishment for unintentional tackles.
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One incident which rugby fans from around the world should have similar views on was a horrible tackle that happened during the Brumbies' Super Rugby clash today against the Queensland Reds.
Brumbies' winger Corey Toole was on the receiving end of a colossal, late hit by Queensland Reds' lock Angus Blyth.
Toole immediately tried to get back to his feet after the collision, but he could barely stand without the assistance of his teammates and medical team.
Bizarrely, after consulting with his touch judges, referee Ben O'Keeffe opted to only show Blyth a yellow card for his horrendous hit on the 23-year-old winger.
Nasty hit on Toole 🤯
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Super Rugby fans react to Blyth's tackle
After a further review from the TMO, Blyth's yellow card was upgraded to a red, but the decision by the referee to initially only send the lock to the sin bin which angered rugby fans.
How is that the same punishment as a deliberate knock on??? Union has lost the plot, that is a send off every day of the week.
— Brad Kuypers (@KuypersBrad) April 7, 2023
That's a disgraceful shot and deserves about 10 weeks.
— John O'Farrell (@Johnof001) April 7, 2023
That deserves a lengthy suspension
— Bradley Clout (@BradClout) April 7, 2023
Super Rugby passed new rules on foul play at the start of the season, meaning that like in this case, the TMO can intervene and upgrade the yellow card to a red card.
Although it might seem like the right decision was ultimately made, Super Rugby rules state that once a yellow card has been upgraded to a red, it will only be a 20-minute red card and following the period down to 14 men, a replacement can be brought in for the dismissed player.
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