How Super Rugby’s ill-discipline stacks up against Europe’s leagues after nine red cards

Jared Wright
Red card incidents during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Melbourne Rebels and Fijian Drua.

A look at the number of red cards in the top club competitions.

Across the Top 14, United Rugby Championship, Premiership and Super Rugby Pacific, the southern hemisphere tournament boasts the worst disciplinary record this season.

After 498 league matches across the four tournaments, Super Rugby Pacific has seen nine red cards issued in just 66 games.

In total, 20 red cards have been issued across the four competitions, with the URC seeing the most sending-offs with ten. However, there have been 151 matches – 85 fewer than Super Rugby.

After 14 rounds in the Premiership, 13 in the URC, 20 in the Top 14 and eight in Super Rugby, Planet Rugby takes a look through the red cards in each league and the reasoning for them.

Top 14 – Nine red cards in 188 matches

It did not take long for the first red card in the Top 14 to be issued with Castres flanker Mathieu Babillot given his marching orders in his first game of the season. The back-rower received two yellow cards, the first for a professional foul from a quick tap and the second was for an accumulation of team penalties, and he was the last to offend.

Meanwhile, there were red cards for more serious acts as Clermont prop Cristian Ojovan was given his marching orders for a sickening clear-out attempt, akin to Shannon Frizell’s in the World Cup final and Darcy Swain’s on Quinn Tupaea. He was handed a six-game ban for his actions.

Racing 92 lock Boris Palu copped just a one-week ban for his croc roll clear out that resulted in a red card against Bordeaux.

Similarly, La Rochelle lock Thomas Lavault was red-carded for a terrible clear-out attempt where he made contact to the head of a prone player on the ground and was handed a two-week suspension.

La Rochelle winger Teddy Thomas was red-carded for a clothesline tackle against his former employers Racing 92, and was handed a five-game ban for his actions.

Toulon’s Jérémy Sinzelle was red-carded for reckless play as he ran head-first into Castres’ Geoffrey Palis while attempting to compete for the ball.

There were also red cards for dangerous tackles for Lyon’s Romain Taofifenua (a three-game ban reduced to two) and Tolu Latu for a no-arms tackle attempted that resulted in a four-game ban.

The other sending-off was for La Rochelle and France centre Jonathan Danty, who kicked out at Stade Francais centre Jeremy Ward and was handed a two-game ban for his actions.

Premiership – Two red cards in 93 matches

The Gallagher Premiership boasts the least amount of sending offs across the four top competitions, with just two red cards in 93 matches.

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Niall Armstrong copped a three-match ban after he raised his boot when attempting to field a high ball and kicked Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith in the face.

He was banned for three matches for his actions, which was reduced by one by completing the coaching intervention program.

The other red card was shown to Saracens prop Mako Vunipola for his dangerous tackle on Newcastle’s Bryan Byrne, which resulted in a four-match ban.

‘A very South African thing to do’ – Courtney Lawes rejects Jake White claims after Bulls’ ‘exaggerated’ travel issues

URC – 10 red cards in 151 matches

The URC has seen the most red cards across the four competitions with several dangerous tackles in the tournament.

Benetton’s Eli Snyman, Cardiff’s Ellis Jenkins, Rey Lee-Lo and Ciaran Parker, the Lions’ Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Ruben Schoeman, Ospreys’ Mat Protheroe and the Bulls’ Marcell Coetzee were all red carded for dangerous tackles.

The majority of players were handed three-game bans reduced by one upon completion of the coaching intervention program.

Cardiff’s Parker was one of the exceptions as he copped a five-game ban for his dangerous tackle on Benetton’s Simone Ferrari.

Lee-Lo got four games for his tackle, while Taine Basham copped a four-game ban for his cheap shot on Ross Byrne.

Sharks forward Hyron Andrews received a four-game ban and was given a red card for a dangerous clear-out, where he dumped a Zebre opponent over the horizontal.

United Rugby Championship: The implications Round 14 has on the tight playoff picture

Super Rugby Pacific – Nine red cards in 66 matches

So far this season, a red card is issued on average every seventh game.

Chiefs prop Jared Proffit, Hurricanes back Jordie Barrett, Reds flanker Fraser McReight, Highlanders forward Tanielu Tele’a and Moana Pacifika winger Nigel Ah Wong were all given their marching orders for dangerous tackles.

Proffit, Barrett, Tele’a and McReight all got three-game bans, while Ah Wong surprisingly had his red card rescinded.

Meanwhile, the Fijian Drua saw two red cards in one game against the Melbourne Rebels.

Frank Lomani was given a six-week ban after his cheap shot on Josh Canham resulted in a red card.

Later in the game, hooker Jone Koroiduadua was red card for a headbutt on Reds front-rower Alex Mafi with his actions resulting in a two-game ban.

The Drua’s Tevita Ikanivere was also sent off for dangerous clear-out, but the Foul Play Review Committee rescinded his red card.

There was also a red card for Reds scrum-half Tate McDermott for a cheap shot, and he copped a three-week ban for his actions.

READ MORE: Five storylines ahead of Round Nine of Super Rugby Pacific including the return of Australia’s prodigal son while Blues and Brumbies set for Auckland classic

Features