Ireland to Lose Star To Top 14 Rugby? Mixed Reaction to Red Card Rule

The news that has riled up all of the Irish fans with Six Nations tickets is the rumored move from their star player Bundee Aki to Toulon. 

Toulon has reportedly made contact with Ireland star Bundee Aki with a view to bringing him to France ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The gargantuan center will be out of contract at the end of the campaign and is, therefore, attracting interest from the fiscal powerhouses in the Top 14.

Over the past couple of years, Aki has played some of the best rugby of his career and was one of the outstanding performers at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations.

Ticket platforms such as Seatsnet have recounted times when Ireland games were not very popular. But Ireland’s resurgence as a top-tier rugby nation in the last decade has changed everything. 

And Bundee Aki has had a significant say in this change. 

He carried that form into 2024 when Ireland once again won the Six Nations title, and he will likely be in Andy Farrell’s squad for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025.

However, the Connacht linchpin is now 34 and will turn 35 before the season is out, which means that he could well be tempted by one final lucrative payday in the south of France.

According to Midi Olympique, Toulon contacted the center to find a replacement for Leicester Fainga’anuku, who will return to New Zealand next year.

The report also states that Samoa international Duncan Paia’aua is likely to depart, while Mathieu Smaili and Jeremy Sinzelle are nearing the end of their contracts.

Despite Aki’s remarkable displays, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) might be reluctant to hand him another central contract due to his age. Midi claims that the governing body has not yet offered him a new deal and recently spoke to Toulon recruiters via a video call.

The French giants, who won the Heineken Cup in three successive years between 2013 and 2015, are looking for a world-class center replacement, and Aki certainly fits the bill.

There are also rumors that Bundee Aki has a contract until 2026, which might only be valid in the following year. If that’s the case, it plays well to Ireland’s advantage as they have adequate time to groom his successor. 

However, knowing that Bundee Aki will not play in an Ireland jersey after next season, several fans are actively looking for Six Nations tickets on Seatsnet. 

With Ireland trying to do the invincible and win the Grand Slam for three consecutive years, ticket demand has tripled. 

France and Springboks Oppose 20 Min, Red Card

The French rugby authorities and players have opposed World Rugby’s 20-minute red card proposal because it could potentially harm players’ welfare and trigger more violent conduct in the game.

Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), and players’ union Provale maintained that the red card remains effective as a disciplinary measure while citing a lack of evidence in trials to effect changes as players across the divisions produce sufficient reason in their testimony.

“For the FFR, LNR, and Provale, the red card is a crucial tool that deters unsporting behavior and protects the physical integrity of players,” said the French rugby authorities.

 “Transforming this sanction into a temporary expulsion could encourage dangerous behavior, thereby compromising player safety, which must remain the absolute priority,” they added,

However, South Africa has yet to follow suit, as it has backed Australia and New Zealand in their support of the law. SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer believes that it will enhance the excitement of the game and create more evenly-matched competitions.

“SARU supports that (20-minute red). A red card spoils the match,” said Rian Oberholzer, the SA Rugby CEO.

“As a spectacle – when you have 14 play against 15 – as someone said, there is a three percent chance of the 14 winnings. I don’t think that is good for the game or the spectators,” Oberholzer added.

His statements reflect those made by Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, who has consistently supported the implementation of the law amendment.

Currently, World Rugby officials have recommended the 20-minute red card as one measure to improve the viewing and playing experience for World Rugby. The rule would give teams an advantage if they could replace the player who was sent off after 20 minutes.

According to arguments from different countries, if the rule is used optimistically, it may enhance the game, but pessimistically, it will harm the players and the general character of the sport.

Fans who are set to buy Six Nations tickets will be able to see the new rule changes at the Six Nations 2025.

Gatland Supports 20 Min Rule

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has come out in support of the permanent adoption of World Rugby’s 20-minute red card ahead of the end-of-year internationals.

The 20-minute red card was trialed during the Rugby Championship and World Rugby U20 Championship this year, but it hasn’t been seen in the northern hemisphere.

However, match officials will have a variation. They will retain the ability to show a permanent red card for foul play that is deemed to be deliberate and dangerous.

“I actually agree with it,” Wales head coach Gatland told BBC Scrum V when pressed for his view on the rule that will be on show during the upcoming Test fixtures next month.

“I think the 20-minute red card rule is good for the game because players are yellow-carded and potentially upgraded. A lot of that is just mistiming, and it’s not that they’re trying to take anyone out.”

Officials will also have the option to award a 20-minute red card for technical offenses, which differs from the stand-alone 20-minute red card proposal due to be discussed by the wider game in mid-November.

The red card variation ensures that players deemed to commit deliberate and dangerous offences receive the full sanctioning and subsequent disciplinary process. The team is reduced to 14 men for the rest of the match.

The 20-minute element, meanwhile, will relate to an unintentional act of foul play.

In these circumstances, the player will be removed from the field of play for the remainder of the game. The offending side can replace that player after 20 minutes, and one of their available substitutes will bring the team back to 15 players.

Gatland backs rule

“To have a team penalized for the whole game or potentially 50 or 60 minutes for a red card which hasn’t been deliberate, I think, takes away from the game. So I think it’s a good rule to introduce,” Gatland added.

Six Nations tickets for the 2025 tournament are already available on Seatsnet.