Consequently,
Top 14/pro d2-a real orange:
The 2025-2026 season of the Top 14. Meanwhile, the Pro D2 is preparing to start with its share of new guidelines. Therefore, They concern both the ruck and the fray phases and the introduction of the famous orange card. Meanwhile, Adjustments which. Similarly, according to the boss of the French referees Mathieu Raynal, aim to “put on fairness” and to “give readability” to arbitral decisions, in a context where rugby seeks to better protect its players while retaining the fluidity of the game. Similarly,
As the season kicks off. Meanwhile, each rugby lover wants to understand the new rules to take full advantage of all matches. Therefore, It was therefore essential to clarify the developments desired by the arbitral body. Moreover, Last week, referees and technical staffs gathered in Loudenvielle to make consensus. Mathieu Raynal, top 14/pro d2-a real orange head of Top 14 and Pro D2 referees, returned in detail, for rugbyrama, on the most complex points. Nevertheless, We explain everything to you.
Offensive support: more rigor at the Ruck – Top 14/pro d2-a real orange
The first clarifications concern the ruck area. In addition, with details on legal entry points and attitudes to adopt, for offensive support. However, These requirements are already one of the rules, but the arbitrators will accentuate their vigilance on these situations.
- Vigilance on offensive support:
- Beyond having to borrow a “legal entrance point”. Consequently, that is to say engaging in the axis of the ruck or tackle, the accent will now be put even more strongly on mastery of body weight. Furthermore, Players will have to pay particular attention to their “anchor point”. Meanwhile, avoiding the so-called “Overextended” positions, where they switch beyond the ruck with their hands on the ground.
- However. In addition, it remains authorized for an offensive player to rely on the plated player, provided that he keeps control of his balance and leaving a space sufficient for an opponent to be able to try a counter-Ruck. Nevertheless, Clearly, it is forbidden to “spread out” above the ball to lock the area and prevent any attempt at dispute.
top 14/pro d2-a real orange
Explanations from Mathieu Raynal:
“The anchor point is the base. Moreover, An effective anchoring is when offensive support relys on the plated player while keeping control of his body weight. However, without switching forward. Consequently, If they put their hands on the ground while trying to clear. Moreover, they are asked to come back to replace themselves correctly, to ‘recharge’ their support by reciting the plated player, to stay in a legal and stable position.
Let’s dive above the rucks: clarification top 14/pro d2-a real orange on diving tests
Another clarification. For example, simpler this time, concerns the possibility of marking a test by diving over a ruck. For example, World Rugby returned on it at the beginning of the month : A player can dive to score. Nevertheless, provided you don’t touch anyone on the ground. For example, If the dive leads to contact with players on the ground. In addition, a dangerous fall, it will be penalty against the diving player.
Mathieu Raynal tempers: “It is an action that we almost never see. Last year, out of 450 games, we saw only one case.”
Enlifting: end of the shortcomings and unlivaled balloons
Last key point: upgrading of scrum introductions. Long neglected, this phase has often fueled debates. This season, the priority is to restore equity. The introductions will have to be straight. the ball must be followed, and the referees will apply the top 14/pro d2-a real orange sanctions with Constance to guarantee truly disputed scrums.
From the start of the season. reinforced rigor will be implemented during meetings which take place every two months between the melee coaches of the clubs and William Servat, coach of the conquest of the XV of France. It is not a question of tracking down the faults. but ensuring a coherence of arbitration, in order to stop a drift which biased the equity of this phase of play.
Explanations from Mathieu Raynal:
“Everyone agrees to say that there was a drift on the scrubbing introductions. Even the staffs recognize it. We let pass straight introductions, and it lacked equity. This season, we decided to put more rigor. Everyone is aware, referees and staff, and everyone has validated this desire to be more strict. Sanction regularly, the teams will adapt, especially since the melee coaches will insist on top 14/pro d2-a real orange training.
The orange card: the new weapon for cases “between two”
The great novelty of the season. the one that everyone is talking about, will be the introduction of an orange cardboard. The latter is intended to decide the litigious situations, halfway between the yellow card and the red card. It is the “French Touch” which replaces the “bunker” system used internationally. precisely defining the cases where a player will receive a temporary red card of 20 minutes, now called “orange card” in Top 14 and Pro D2.
- Why an orange card?
Until now, Top 14 and Pro D2 referees had to choose between a yellow card or a permanent red card. The 20 min red card (known as orange card) will intervene for cases where the degree of danger. attenuating circumstance criteria would not be clear enough for a high “too” sanction (red card) or top 14/pro d2-a real orange a high “not enough” sanction (yellow card).
The orange card then becomes the tool that will exclude a player for 20 minutes, without going to the final red. Unlike the World Rugby protocol. which uses two red cards (a permanent and a temporary 20 minutes via the bunker but without visual distinction), the top 14 materializes this nuance with an orange card for the readability of the public. The player excludes 20 minutes will not be able to return to the field but can be replaced at. the end of numerical inferiority.
- The orange card should be applied in the following cases:
- Technically poorly executed dangerous clearances. tangles (legal but dangerous attitude)
- Situations “between two” which divided the opinion before. (Example: high tackles with contact with the head where the attenuating circumstance is not strong enough to go down to yellow. but not clear enough to go top 14/pro d2-a real orange up to red.
- As a reminder. a red card in Top 14 and Pro D2 intervenes according to the unchanged protocol that is the following:
- If there is a contact in the head;
- If a unfair game is characterized (whether due to a legal or illegal attitude);
- If there is a high degree of danger;
- If there is no admissible attenuating circumstance (for an illegal attitude, the attenuating circumstances are external).
The main difference with World Rugby therefore lies in the management of “legal” attitudes. For World Rugby. any unfair game due to a legal, but uncontrolled attitude, automatically leads to a 20 -minute red card, regardless of the degree of danger. In France. we want to keep readability by modulating the sanction according to the degree of dangerousness and the clarity of attenuating circumstances.
Top 14/pro d2-a real orange
Explanations from top 14/pro d2-a real orange Mathieu Raynal:
“World Rugby has different procedures from ours. because they have the bunker. But to simplify: with us. the permanent red card remains exactly the same as last year, with the same observation criteria. The yellow card also does not change. Additionally, The only novelty is that we introduce the orange box. to decide the ‘limits’ situations, those which often lent to debate.
I will give a concrete example: a high tuning with contact in the head. There is a unfair game (legal. since it is an unseated technical gesture, editor’s note)carried out by a standing plate, it is therefore a high degree of danger. But there is also a first platform which is proposed properly and which constitutes an attenuating circumstance. The problem is that this attenuating circumstance lowers the ball carrier. but not enough to significantly reduce the degree of danger.
In this case, we are top 14/pro d2-a real orange between red (too severe) and yellow (not severe enough). It is exactly for these situations ‘in between’ that the orange card comes in. That’s the logic. ”
A card that lengthens the time spent in video?
Beyond causing a lot of ink, the new orange card arouses criticism. Some believe that it will give even more importance to video arbitration, already considered too time -consuming. However, when the question is asked in Mathieu Raynal, his answer is unequivocal.
Explanations from Mathieu Raynal:
“To say that the orange card will increase the time spent in the video is false. In reality, we will have exactly the same number of video calls: about 2.2 per game, for an average time of about 4 minutes. To put it in perspective. we spend almost 18 minutes playing a scrum, 12 minutes to make the replacements, and 10 minutes top 14/pro d2-a real orange to play keys.
So, are these 4 minutes spent on video really what takes the most time? Not necessarily. Will we spend more time on video? No, because we will always have the same number of situations to control. What changes is only the sanction to apply: yellow, red, or now orange card. We do not add new situations to review on video, we continue to control the same.
The number of video calls will therefore not move. it’s just that at the time of the decision, the referees must choose between three types of sanction. And does it lengthen the time spent on video? Not really, because the procedures are clear and respected by all. ”
The two new features that it will be necessary to get used to
Finally. it will be necessary to get used to hearing the referees directly in the stadiums. Concretely. their top 14/pro d2-a real orange microphone will be broadcast on the sound system during exchanges with the video referee and when the decisions were announced. A device already in place on international matches.
Another discreet but important novelty: the chronometer will now stop after each penalty. each transformation, in order to increase the actual playing time: “If we collectively decide to stop time after a penalty or a transformation is marked, until return to the game, we will win an average of 3 minutes of effective playing time”.
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